Enough Meaning

UK /ɪˈnʌf/
US /ɪˈnʌf/
Word Definition
enough meaning

Enough Definition & Usage

adjective

Sufficient in quantity, degree, or degree to meet needs or desires.

Examples

  • "We have enough food for everyone at the party."
  • "She didn't have enough time to finish her work."
  • "There isn't enough evidence to convict him."
  • "Do you think it's enough to win the race?"
  • "We’ve had enough rain this week."
adverb

To a sufficient degree or extent.

Examples

  • "She’s not old enough to drive."
  • "It’s not warm enough to go swimming."
  • "You need to study enough to pass the exam."
  • "They don’t work hard enough to succeed."
  • "He didn’t try hard enough to make it."
noun

An adequate or acceptable amount or quantity.

Examples

  • "I’ve had enough of this situation."
  • "He’s had enough of waiting for her to call."
  • "You’ve done enough for today, take a break."
  • "There’s enough for everyone to share."
  • "Enough is enough – we need to take action."

Cultural Context

The word 'enough' has its origins in Old English and has evolved through various forms. It is widely used in English-speaking countries across both formal and informal settings. The term conveys sufficiency and can express contentment or dissatisfaction depending on context.

The Limits of Enough

Story

The Limits of Enough

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon when Sarah realized that she'd had enough. Enough of the long hours at work. Enough of the endless meetings. And most of all, enough of trying to please everyone. She was standing in the kitchen, staring at the overflowing sink, her mind racing as she realized how close she was to burnout. 'Why do I always end up doing this?' she muttered to herself. 'There's never enough time, never enough energy.' It seemed like no matter how hard she worked, the demands never stopped. There was always something more to do, more people to satisfy. Her phone buzzed. It was a text from her colleague, Mike: 'Are you coming to the meeting later? We need your input.' Sarah sighed. 'Enough,' she thought. 'I’ve been to enough of these.' She quickly typed a reply: 'Sorry, I’ve got enough to handle here.' As she sat down with a cup of tea, her son, Ethan, came rushing into the room, eyes wide. 'Mom, can we go to the park? I’ve been waiting enough!' he said, holding his shoes in his hands. Sarah smiled, feeling a wave of affection wash over her. 'Okay, okay, just give me a second. Let me finish this.' She looked at the pile of emails, then back at Ethan’s hopeful face. 'We’ve had enough of work for today,' she said, getting up. 'Let’s go.' At the park, the sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over everything. Ethan ran ahead, his laughter filling the air. Sarah stood there for a moment, watching him play. She thought about the last few months — the stress, the fatigue, the constant juggling act. 'Maybe it's time for a change,' she thought. 'I’ve had enough of this grind. It’s time to prioritize the things that really matter.' As she walked toward Ethan, she felt a sense of peace. For once, she had enough of the chaos — and it was enough to know that she could choose something different for herself. The day ended with a sense of satisfaction. Not because she had finished everything, but because she had learned that sometimes, having enough means knowing when to stop and when to embrace what truly matters.

The Limits of Enough