noun
Common
ace
AYS
Ace (noun) means a playing card marked with a single symbol, usually ranked highest or lowest in a game. Example: “He kept the ace of hearts hidden up his sleeve during the card trick.”
noun
1
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."
"In this game the ace counts low, so be careful when you score."
"She drew the ace of spades and won the hand."
2
A person who is extremely skilled at something.
"Our new neighbour is an ace with computers and fixed my laptop in minutes."
"He's an ace at fixing old motorcycles."
"The team's pitching ace hasn't lost a game all season."
3
(tennis) A serve that the opponent fails to touch, winning the point outright.
"His first serve was an ace, and the crowd cheered loudly."
"The player hit an ace down the middle and punched the air."
"She served three aces in a row to close out the match."
verb
1
To do extremely well in something, such as a test.
"If you revise properly, you could ace the driving theory test."
"She aced her presentation and the whole class applauded."
"He aced his final exams without much studying."
adj
1
Excellent; first-rate.
"We had an ace weekend at the seaside with my cousins."
"He's an ace cook, so dinner at his place is always great."
"That was an ace performance from the whole team."
How to use ace
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA top card, an expert at something, or (in tennis) an unreturned serve; also used as an informal word for "excellent."
Common pairings
ace of spades
ace a test
serve an ace
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Word forms
- Plural
- aces
- Third person singular
- aces
- Past tense
- aced
- Comparative
- more ace
- Superlative
- most ace
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He kept the _____ of hearts hidden up his sleeve during the card trick.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for ace
See all rhymes for 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.
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