ace

18 synonyms and 1 antonym for ace, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A playing card marked with a single symbol, usually ranked highest or lowest in a game.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

expert master champion star genius I super crack

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

adept nail tops

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

virtuoso whiz maven hotshot mavin tiptop topnotch

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A playing card marked with a single symbol, usually ranked highest or lowest in a game.

“He kept the ace of hearts hidden up his sleeve during the card trick.”

expert master virtuoso champion star whiz maven genius adept I hotshot mavin

2. verb

To do extremely well in something, such as a test.

“If you revise properly, you could ace the driving theory test.”

nail

3. adj

Excellent; first-rate.

“We had an ace weekend at the seaside with my cousins.”

tiptop super crack topnotch tops

Opposites

mediocre

How to use ace

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

ace of spades ace a test serve an ace

Etymology

From Old French as, from Latin as, assis, meaning "a unit" or "a small copper coin" — the idea of being the "one" or top unit carried over into cards and skill.

Full origin of ace →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ace” mean?

The word “ace” means a playing card marked with a single symbol, usually ranked highest or lowest in a game. In plain terms, a top card, an expert at something, or (in tennis) an unreturned serve; also used as an informal word for "excellent.".

How do you pronounce “ace”?

“Ace” is pronounced AYS (/ˈeɪ̯s/ in IPA).

How do you use “ace” in a sentence?

Here is “ace” used in a sentence: “She drew the ace of spades and won the hand.”

What part of speech is “ace”?

Depending on how it is used, “ace” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.

Where does the word “ace” come from?

The word “ace” comes from Latin. From Old French as, from Latin as, assis, meaning "a unit" or "a small copper coin" — the idea of being the "one" or top unit carried over into cards and skill.

Is “ace” a common word?

“Ace” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “ace” have?

“Ace” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a playing card marked with a single symbol, usually ranked highest or lowest in a game.

In card games, is the ace high or low?

An ace is a playing card marked with a single symbol, and depending on the game it can rank either highest or lowest. In many games it is the top card above the king, but in others it counts as one, the lowest value. The rules of each game decide which applies.

What is the difference between an ace and an expert?

An 'ace' is an informal, punchy word for a person who is extremely skilled at something, as in 'a computer ace.' 'Expert' is a more neutral, formal term for someone with deep knowledge or skill. 'Ace' adds admiration and a casual tone that 'expert' does not.

What are common phrases that use ace?

Common phrases include 'ace up your sleeve,' 'ace it,' and 'a flying ace.' 'An ace up your sleeve' means a hidden advantage, while 'ace it' means to do something extremely well. 'Flying ace' describes a highly skilled fighter pilot.

People also searched

i star super master champion expert crack genius nail tops mediocre adept

Nearby words

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