well enough

well enough — idiom

1. in a way that gives you what you need for a particular purpose, even if the resu

1.idiomB1
Definition

in a way that gives you what you need for a particular purpose, even if the result is not perfect.

Example

Chiara knows the neighbourhood well enough to find her way around without a map.

This old bicycle works well enough to get me to school and back every day.

well enough + infinitive for expressing sufficiency for a goal

Common collocations
  • know well enough
  • work well enough
  • speak well enough
  • treat well enough
Synonyms
  • adequately

    more formal; common in official or professional writing

  • sufficiently

    emphasises meeting a specific standard or requirement

  • satisfactorily

    formal; used when something meets expectations

Antonyms
  • poorly

    suggests the opposite of satisfactory performance

Usage Note

Often followed by an infinitive (to + verb) that states the purpose or goal the sufficiency relates to.

Common Mistakes

I know her good enough to trust her.
I know her well enough to trust her.
'well' is the adverb form of 'good'; 'good' is an adjective and cannot modify a verb.

2. a state of affairs that is acceptable as it currently is, used especially when a

2.idiomB2
Definition

a state of affairs that is acceptable as it currently is, used especially when advising someone not to make changes that could cause problems; most often found in the fixed expression 'leave (or let) well enough alone'.

Example

The garden is not perfect, but I think we should leave well enough alone and enjoy it as it is.

"leave well enough alone" — fixed expression for not interfering

The patient's condition was stable, so Dr. Okafor agreed to leave well enough alone.

Common collocations
  • leave well enough alone
  • let well enough alone
Synonyms
  • status quo

    more formal; a neutral term for the current state

  • current state

    literal and neutral; lacks the cautionary tone of the idiom

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

leave + well enough + alone

let + well enough + alone

Usage Note

This sense almost never appears outside the fixed phrases 'leave well enough alone' and 'let well enough alone'. The latter is more common in British English. Distinguish from sense 1: here 'well enough' is a noun phrase (the object of 'leave'), not an adverb modifying the verb.

Common Mistakes

I think you should leave it enough well alone.
I think you should leave well enough alone.
The word order is fixed; do not rearrange the phrase.
The computer works well enough, so I'll let well enough to be alone.
The computer works well enough, so I'll let well enough alone.
The expression is 'let well enough alone' (without 'to be').

Synonym discussion

Sense: idiom/1

All four alternatives describe meeting a standard, but differ in register and emphasis. 'Adequately' is the closest neutral synonym and works in both speech and writing. 'Sufficiently' focuses on meeting a specific requirement or threshold, common in technical or formal contexts. 'Satisfactorily' implies the outcome meets expectations, often used in evaluation reports. 'Passably' is closest to the everyday tone of 'well enough', sometimes with a hint that the result is just barely okay. In casual conversation, 'well enough' is the most natural choice; the alternatives sound noticeably more formal.

adequately ↗sufficiently ↗satisfactorily ↗passably ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The phrase combines the Old English adverb 'wel' (meaning 'in a satisfactory manner') with 'genōg' (meaning 'sufficient'). Together they have been used since the early Middle English period to express an adequate or sufficient degree.

First known use

1792

1792, in the meaning defined above