ace

noun (1)

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\ ˈās

Definition of ace

(Entry 1 of 7)

1a : a die face marked with one spot

b : a playing card marked in its center with one pip

c : a domino end marked with one spot

2 : a very small amount or degree : particle

3 : a point scored especially on a service (as in tennis or handball) that an opponent fails to touch

4 : a golf score of one stroke on a hole also : a hole made in one stroke

5 : a combat pilot who has brought down at least five enemy airplanes

6a : a person who excels at something a computer ace

b : the best pitcher on a baseball team the ace of the staff

ace in the hole

1 : an ace dealt face down to a player (as in stud poker) and not exposed until the showdown

2 : an effective and decisive argument or resource held in reserve

within an ace of

: on the point of : very near to came within an ace of winning

ace

verb

aced; acing

Definition of ace (Entry 2 of 7)

transitive verb

1 : to score an ace against (an opponent)

2 : to make (a hole in golf) in one stroke

3 : to gain a decisive advantage over : defeat —usually used with out

4a : to earn a high grade on (something, such as an examination) especially : to get an A on

b : to perform extremely well in he aced every subject

ace

adjective (1)

Definition of ace (Entry 3 of 7)

: of first or high rank or quality an ace mechanic

ace

noun (2)

plural aces

Definition of ace (Entry 4 of 7)

: an asexual person (see asexual sense 3b) Like many other aces and aros, I grew up thinking I was broken. I was 19 before I heard the words "asexual" or "aromantic," before I found out that there were other people in the world like me.— Mikayla Micomonaco

ace

adjective (2)

Definition of ace (Entry 5 of 7)

: asexual But ace individuals often still feel romantic attraction toward others, as well as a drive to cultivate intimate, loving relationships—just without an intrinsic interest in pursuing the sexual aspect.— Taryn Deoilers

Ace

trademark

Definition of Ace (Entry 6 of 7)

—used for a bandage with elastic properties

ACE

abbreviation

Definition of ACE (Entry 7 of 7)

1 American Council on Education

2 \ ˌā-(ˌ)sē-ˈē

, ˈās- \ angiotensin converting enzyme The ACE inhibitors are designer molecules developed specifically to attach to their target enzyme and prevent it from activating angiotensin. Virtually the only thing these drugs do in the body is to interact with ACE. However, ACE is not a very specific enzyme; it acts on hormones besides angiotensin. — Harvard Medical Health Letter

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing ace Learn More About ace

Examples of ace in a Sentence

Noun (1) She won the match by scoring more than 30 aces. took a few lessons with a tennis ace to improve his backhand Verb She aced her entrance exams. He aced his annual physical. He aced his opponent on the last point of the match.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This builds loyalty, encourages growth within the company and is a strong ace up your sleeve for retention. — Expert Panel®, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 Earlier this year, Kokrak earned the first and only ace of The Masters Par-3 Contest on the 125-yard No. 4. — Dave Clark, The Enquirer, 20 July 2022 New York will counter with its own big-money ace, with Gerrit Cole set to go on Sunday. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2022 Pallette, a right-hander from Benton who projected as the staff ace in 2022, did not pitch this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery before the season began. — Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 17 July 2022 He was named the 2022 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year as the ace who led the Eaglets to their third consecutive state title and an 88-1 record over the past two seasons. — Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press, 15 July 2022 In the process of falling to the Colorado Rockies, 6-5, at Coors Field, the Diamondbacks blew a five-run lead with their ace on the mound. — Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 3 July 2022 The Giants now lead the best-of-five NLDS 2-1, knowing that at worst, a deciding Game 5 will be at Oracle Park in San Francisco, with their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. — Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 12 Oct. 2021 With a 6-5 lead, Krueger had a match point, but the 14-point game eventually went to Brantmeier, 16, of Whitewater, Wis., near Milwaukee, with her eighth ace to the force tiebreaker. — Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The park has sold out 23 times this season, two of which came when fans expected to see Mets ace Max Scherzer pitch in a rehab start in June. — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2022 Kershaw’s lower inning count might have opened the door for Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who leads the league in ERA (1.76) and innings (138 1/3) and ranks fourth in strikeouts (123). — Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 18 July 2022 And finally Watch Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw trigger a version of the wave at Dodger Stadium as fans mimic his signature pre-throw motion. — Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2022 The chants came near the end of the sixth inning on Sunday, when Oregon State ace Cooper Hjerpe left the Goss Stadium mound for the last time and strolled to the dugout. — Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 13 June 2022 Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara mowed down the Giants through seven innings and 111 pitches, striking out eight and walking two. — John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle, 2 June 2022 Palmquist, a sophomore, has been the Hurricanes’ ace starter this year, putting up a 2.64 ERA in 75 innings and notching a 9-3 record. — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2022 The school also boasts Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, along with former pitcher and current Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, 17 May 2022 Anderson is an elite athlete who will be drafted as a special teams ace, with the potential to develop into a hybrid defender who can be utilized primarily in the slot. — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, ajc, 21 Feb. 2022 An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, ajc, 21 Feb. 2022 An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, ajc, 21 Feb. 2022 An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, ajc, 21 Feb. 2022 An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, ajc, 21 Feb. 2022 An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, ajc, 21 Feb. 2022 An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, ajc, 21 Feb. 2022 An ace American skier who faltered and went home empty-handed. — Ted Anthony, chicagotribune.com, 20 Feb. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ace.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of ace

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (1)

1926, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

2008, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

2009, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for ace

Noun (1)

Middle English as, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin ass-, ās "copper money piece (at first a pound, but progressively reduced to a half-ounce), pound unit of weight, unit," of uncertain origin

Note: The word ās has been compared within Latin to asser "wooden beam, pole, post" (generalized from a plural asserēs, from a singular *assis?) and assis, axis (by hypercorrection?) "plank, board," though any relationship is far from certain. A loanword from Etruscan?

Adjective (1)

derivative of ace entry 1