Ace: meaning, definitions and examples

🃏

Add to dictionary

ace

[eɪs ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

playing card game

A playing card with a single spot on it, ranked as the highest card in its suit in most card games.

Synonyms

number one, one, top card.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ace	Best used to describe someone who is extremely skilled or proficient at something. It can also refer to the highest card in a deck in card games. He is an ace pitcher in the baseball team. I have an ace up my sleeve in this game.
one	Can be simpler or more general, referring to the first position or single item. This term is less specific and often used in everyday conversation. He finished in first place. I only need one of those.
top card	Primarily used in the context of card games to describe the highest card holding the greatest value. Can also be used metaphorically to describe someone or something that is the best or most important. The ace is the top card in this game. She is the top card in our marketing team.
number one	Suitable for indicating the top position in a ranking or the foremost in importance. This term is often used in formal contexts or competitions. She is the number one tennis player in the world. Your health should be your number one priority.

Examples of usage

She won the game with an ace in her hand.
He always tries to get an ace in every round.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

tennis

A serve that the receiver is unable to reach and thus wins the point.

Synonyms

unreturnable serve, winning serve.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ace	This term is commonly used in tennis to refer to a serve that the opponent cannot touch and hence, wins the point straightaway. It's also used metaphorically to indicate someone who excels at something. She served an ace to win the match. He's an ace at solving puzzles.
winning serve	In tennis, this term denotes a serve that directly wins the point for the server, whether it is an ace or a serve that the opponent fails to return effectively. Her winning serve closed the set in a dramatic fashion. The match was clinched by a powerful winning serve.
unreturnable serve	This is specifically a tennis term to describe a serve that the opponent cannot return, although they might manage to touch it with the racket. It emphasizes the difficulty of returning the serve. His unreturnable serve left the opponent frustrated. She mastered the unreturnable serve during her training.

Word

Description / Examples

ace

This term is commonly used in tennis to refer to a serve that the opponent cannot touch and hence, wins the point straightaway. It's also used metaphorically to indicate someone who excels at something.

She served an ace to win the match.
He's an ace at solving puzzles.

winning serve

In tennis, this term denotes a serve that directly wins the point for the server, whether it is an ace or a serve that the opponent fails to return effectively.

Her winning serve closed the set in a dramatic fashion.
The match was clinched by a powerful winning serve.

unreturnable serve

This is specifically a tennis term to describe a serve that the opponent cannot return, although they might manage to touch it with the racket. It emphasizes the difficulty of returning the serve.

His unreturnable serve left the opponent frustrated.
She mastered the unreturnable serve during her training.

Examples of usage

She aced her opponent with a powerful serve.
He has a strong ace in his arsenal.

^{Context #3 | Verb}

informal

To achieve high marks in a test or exam.

Synonyms

excel, nail it, succeed.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
ace	Typically used in informal conversations to denote someone doing exceptionally well in a test, game, or some form of competition. I aced my math exam! She aced the job interview.
excel	Used in more formal or written language to describe someone who is very skilled or performs extremely well in a particular area or field over time. He excels in mathematics. She excelled in her role as a project manager.
succeed	A general term used in both formal and informal settings to indicate achieving a desired result or outcome. It can be applied in various contexts such as career, personal goals, or projects. With hard work, you will succeed. He succeeded in the business world.
nail it	Informal usage. Commonly used to describe successfully performing a task or achieving something with precision and skill. Often used in the context of presentations, performances, or specific tasks. You nailed that presentation! They nailed it in the final round of the competition.

Examples of usage

She aced the math test.
He aced all his exams this semester.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word originates from the Latin 'as', meaning a unit or one, referring to how an ace is often the lowest or highest card.
In medieval times, the ace started to represent the highest value in card games, changing from its earlier use as a low value card.
In the 16th century, the term began to be associated with excellence, leading to its modern usage in phrases like 'to ace a test'.

Gaming

In card games, an ace can take on different values depending on the rules – it can be one or the highest card.
In poker, having an ace can significantly increase your chances of winning, especially if paired with others.
In some sports, like tennis, when a player serves an ace, it means they won the point without the opponent touching the ball.

Pop Culture

The term 'ace' is often used in movies and TV shows to reference a character who is highly skilled or exceptional at something.
In the comic book world, 'Ace' has been used as the name for numerous superheroes and villains, highlighting their top-tier abilities.
Songs about 'aces' often celebrate someone who excels in romance or sports, indicating they are at the top of their game.

Psychology

People who are described as 'acing' their tasks often experience boosts in confidence and self-esteem.
The concept of being an ace can also be linked to perfectionism, where individuals strive to excel in all aspects of life.
In educational settings, students labeled as 'aces' may face additional pressure to maintain high performance.

Sports

An 'ace' in golf refers to getting a hole-in-one, a rare and celebrated achievement.
In volleyball, serving an ace means the ball is served and lands in the opponent's court without them being able to return it.
In baseball, a team's ace pitcher is considered the best, often starting in crucial games and leading the team.

Translations

Translations of the word "ace" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ás

craque
mestre

🇮🇳 उत्कृष्ट

माहिर
निपुण

🇩🇪 Ass

Experte
Meister

🇮🇩 jago

ahli
juara

🇺🇦 ас

майстер
експерт

🇵🇱 as

mistrz
ekspert

🇯🇵 エース

達人
名手

🇫🇷 as

expert
maître

🇪🇸 as

experto
maestro

🇹🇷 as

uzman
usta

🇰🇷 에이스

전문가
달인

🇸🇦 آس

خبير
سيد

🇨🇿 eso

mistr
expert

🇸🇰 eso

majster
odborník

🇨🇳 王牌

专家
大师

🇸🇮 as

mojster
strokovnjak

🇮🇸 ás

sérfræðingur
meistari

🇰🇿 ас

шебер
маман

🇬🇪 ასი

ექსპერტი
ოსტატი

🇦🇿 as

mütəxəssis
usta

🇲🇽 as

experto
maestro

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,752, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.

...
14749 youngster
14750 parentage
14751 purposeful
14752 ace
14753 dashing
14754 pap
14755 slippers
...