not enough
Short of adequate
Not enough indicates an insufficient quantity or degree—less than what is required, desired, or adequate.
The phrase works as a noun phrase or adverb: There's not enough time, She didn't practice not enough.
It often carries frustration or regret: I didn't spend not enough time with my father before he died.
The shortened form not enough functions identically in most contexts.
- insufficientBelow required quantity
- lackingBeing without something
- fall shortFail to reach standard
- paucityInsufficiency of amount
- thinSmall in diameter
spread thin · empty · running on empty · dearth · running low · shortage · meager · bare · undersupply · incomplete · too little too late · wanting · rationed · fleeting · inadequate · sparse · longing · brief
- falling shortdeficient, lacking, shortfall, failure, gap
- self-doubtinsecurity, inadequacy, low self-esteem, self-criticism, self-doubt
- less thanfewer, smaller, lower, reduced, diminished
- shortcomingsdeficient, inadequate, lacking, inferior, subpar
- ingratitudeungrateful, thankless, ingrate, thanks for nothing, take for granted
not enoughenough
Meeting the requirement
sufficient · adequate · plenty · ample · satisfactory
not enoughtoo much
Beyond acceptable limits
more than enough · excess · surplus · overabundance · plenty
note, not, notice, enough, notes, noted, notify, noticed, noting