Ace: meaning, definitions and examples

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.