Ace — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective trademark abbreviation /ˈās/

Meaning & Definition of Ace

Ace (noun)

  1. a die face marked with one spot
  2. a playing card marked in its center with one pip
  3. a domino end marked with one spot
  4. an asexual person

Ace (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

Ace (adjective)

  1. of first or high rank or quality
  2. asexual

Ace (trademark)

  1. —used for a bandage with elastic properties

Ace (abbreviation)

  1. American Council on Education
  2. angiotensin converting enzyme

Ace (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field

    "took a few lessons with a tennis ace to improve his backhand"

    similar: adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack, dab (chiefly British), dab hand (chiefly British), expert, fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, master, maven, meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard
    related: pro, professional, consultant, hired gun, specialist, addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, craftsman, journeyman, all-rounder (British), jack-of-all-trades, Renaissance man, mistress
    opposite: amateur, inexpert, nonexpert
    near: apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice, dabbler, dilettante, layman, nonprofessional

  2. a very small amount

    "not an ace of truth in what she said"

    similar: bit, crumb, dab, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple, shade, shadow, shred, skosh, smack, smell, smidgen, snap, soupçon, spark, spatter, speck, splash, spot, sprinkling, strain, streak, suspicion, tad, touch, trace, drop in the bucket
    related: hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, atom, dot, fleck, flyspeck, grain, granule, molecule, morsel, mote, nubbin, patch, scrap, dash, drop, pinch, part, portion, section, bite, nibble, taste, handful, scattering, smatter, smattering, dose, shot, chip, flake, fragment, shard, shiver, sliver, smithereens, splinter, tatter, clipping, paring, shaving
    near: abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings (chiefly British), loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty, potful, profusion, quantity, raft, reams, scads, stack, wad, wealth, volume, bonanza, embarrassment, excess, overabundance, overage, overflow, overkill, overmuch, oversupply, superabundance, superfluity, surfeit, surplus, chunk, hunk, lump, slab

  3. a very small distance or degree

    "came within an ace of being chosen for the part"

    similar: hair, hairbreadth, hairline, hop, skip, and jump, inch, neck, shouting distance, step, stone's throw
    related: bit, crumb, dab, iota, jot, minim, mite, particle, smidgen, trace, trifle
    opposite: country mile, long haul, mile
    near: infinity, light-year

Ace (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or showing exceptional knowledge, experience, or skill in a field of endeavor

    "an ace computer programmer"

    similar: accomplished, adept, compleat, complete, consummate, crack, crackerjack, educated, experienced, expert, good, great, master, masterful, masterly, practiced, professed, proficient, skilled, skillful, versed, veteran, virtuoso
    related: adroit, clever, deft, dexterous, handy, slick, sure-handed, gifted, talented, polished, refined, effective, effectual, efficient, workmanlike, able, capable, competent, employable, fit, fitted, habile, qualified, knowledgeable, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, all-around, well-rounded, long-term, old, multiskilled, multitalented
    opposite: amateur, amateurish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful
    near: incapable, incompetent, inept, unable, unfit, unfitted, unqualified, weak, artless, crude, rude, ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient, talentless, ungifted, untalented, ignorant, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, beginning, green, inexperienced, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be, primitive, rough, unpolished, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed

Ace (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in nail

    similar: nail, bring about, effect, effectuate, implement, engage (in), practice, accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, follow through (with), fulfill, make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through, work (at), reduplicate, reenact, repeat, actualize, attain, realize, complete, end, finish, wind up
    opposite: fail, skimp, slight, slur

Related Entry: Ace in the hole (phrase)

Ace in the hole is a different word from Ace. The synonyms below are for ace in the hole, not for ace.

  1. something (as a fact or argument) that is decisive or overwhelming

    "The security camera footage was the ace in the hole for winning the case."

    similar: capper, clincher, coup de grâce, crusher, topper
    related: confutation, deathblow, knockout, determinant, factor

Related Entry: Ace (out) (verb)

Ace (out) is a different word from Ace. The synonyms below are for ace (out), not for ace.

  1. as in surpass, top

    similar: better, eclipse, exceed, outdistance, outdo, outfight, outshine, outstrip, overtop, surpass, top, transcend, crush, knock off, knock over, overpower, overthrow, overwhelm, subjugate, upend, vanquish, edge (out), nose out, pip (British), beat, best, conquer, dispatch, hurdle, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), subdue, surmount, take, throw, triumph (over), win (against), worst, cap, excel, flourish, score, succeed, sweep, upset, break, destroy, do in, finish, sink, slaughter, annihilate, blow away, bomb, bury, clobber, cream, drub, dust, flatten, paste, rout, shellac, skin, skunk, smoke (slang), smother, snow under, thrash, trim, tromp, trounce, wallop, wax (slang), whip, whomp, whop, whup

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ace

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ace:

Chiefly British: dab, dab hand
adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack, expert, fiend, geek, guru, hand, hotshot, maestro, master, maven, meister, past master, proficient, scholar, shark, sharp, virtuoso, whiz, wizard, bit, crumb, dram, driblet, glimmer, hint, lick, little, mite, nip, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, scintilla, scruple

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ace

Words with the opposite meaning of Ace:

amateur, inexpert, nonexpert, country mile, long haul, mile, amateurish, inexperienced, jackleg, unprofessional, unseasoned, unskilled, unskillful, fail, skimp, slight, slur

Related Words for Ace

pro, professional, consultant, hired gun, specialist, addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, craftsman, journeyman, all-rounder, jack-of-all-trades, Renaissance man, mistress, hoot, iota, jot, minim, minimum, modicum, semblance, syllable, tittle, vestige, whit, atom, dot

Near Antonyms of Ace

apprentice, beginner, neophyte, novice, dabbler, dilettante, layman, nonprofessional, abundance, barrel, boatload, bucket, bundle, bushel, deal, fistful, gobs, heaps, lashings, loads, lot, mass, mess, mountain, much, oodles, passel, peck, pile, plenty

Word Forms of Ace

Inflections: aced, acing, aces

Origin & Etymology of Ace

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

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Ace

ace boon coon, ACE inhibitor, ace in the hole

Frequently Asked Questions about Ace

What does "Ace" mean?

"Ace" means a die face marked with one spot. As an a noun, a verb, an adjective, a trademark and an abbreviation, it is defined as: a die face marked with one spot. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ace"?

Other words for "Ace" include adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack, dab and dab hand. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ace" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ace"?

There are 227 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ace". Common alternatives include adept, artist, authority, cognoscente, connoisseur, crackerjack, dab, dab hand, expert and fiend.

What is the opposite of "Ace"?

Antonyms of "Ace" include amateur, inexpert, nonexpert, country mile, long haul, mile, amateurish and inexperienced. Near antonyms include apprentice, beginner, neophyte and novice.

How do you use "Ace" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ace" in a sentence: "took a few lessons with a tennis ace to improve his backhand"; "not an ace of truth in what she said"; "came within an ace of being chosen for the part".

Is "Ace" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ace" can be used as a noun, a verb, an adjective, a trademark and an abbreviation, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Ace"?

"Ace" is pronounced /ˈās/.

What is the origin of the word "Ace"?

"Ace" comes from 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. First known use: 14th century.