ace
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a playing card with one symbol on it, usually the highest card in the deck.
n.a playing card with a single pip, typically functioning as the highest-ranking card in most modern games.
Simple“He won the final hand because he was holding the ace of spades.”
In context“In many variations of poker, the ace can serve as either the highest or the lowest card in a straight.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who is exceptionally good at a particular activity.
n.an individual of supreme talent or expertise, often used attributively to describe a specialist.
Simple“The company hired an ace reporter to cover the political scandal.”
In context“The team's ace pitcher was sidelined by a shoulder injury just weeks before the championship series began.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a serve in tennis that is so good the other player cannot even touch it.
n.a legal serve that is not touched by the receiver, resulting in an immediate point for the server.
Simple“She served three aces in a row to win the first set.”
In context“The player relied on his powerful first serve to rack up aces and keep his opponent on the defensive.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.a pilot who has shot down many enemy planes.
n.a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.
Simple“The retired pilot was celebrated as a flying ace from the Second World War.”
In context“To be officially recognised as an ace, the pilot had to provide verified evidence of each successful engagement.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to do something perfectly, especially a test or an interview.
v.to achieve a perfect score or perform exceptionally well on an assessment or in a competitive situation.
Simple“I studied all night and I think I managed to ace the exam.”
In context“Despite her initial nerves, she managed to ace the technical interview and was offered the position the following day.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as 'the test' or 'the audition'.
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.very good or excellent.
adj.denoting high quality or excellence; used as a general-purpose superlative in informal contexts.
Simple“We had an ace time at the concert last night.”
In context“The new skate park is absolutely ace, featuring several bowls and a massive half-pipe.”
- 07 C1 Advanced
adj.a short way to say asexual, meaning someone who does not feel sexual attraction.
adj.a shortened form of asexual; used to describe individuals who experience little or no sexual attraction to others.
Simple“She realized she was ace after reading about different types of attraction online.”
In context“The community centre provides a safe space for ace and aromantic individuals to share their experiences.”
Synonyms
“Sabalenka served 10 aces to Rakhimova's two and did not face a single break point.”