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  • A game
    A game
    noun
    a person’s best effort, abilities, or achievement.
  • 'A' game
    'A' game
    noun
    one's best possible performance, esp in the phrase to bring or take one's 'A' game

A game

American  
Or A-game,

noun

Informal.
  1. a person’s best effort, abilities, or achievement.

    The candidate brought her A game to the debate.


'A' game British  

noun

  1. informal one's best possible performance, esp in the phrase to bring or take one's 'A' game

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of A game

In reference to a sports contest, with the letter A indicating peak performance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A game called "Flappy Bill" features a bald eagle carrying a document in its claws that tries to avoid smashing into columns of various heights, against a background that resembles Washington DC.

From Barron's Sep. 4, 2026

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt brought their A game, embracing method dressing without going overboard.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 21, 2026

A game of bowling at Tenpin costs £38.50 making the total night out £212.50.

From BBC Mar. 23, 2026

Opener Sahibzada Farhan hit a robust half-century to help Pakistan post 190-9 in their T20 World Cup Group A game against United States in Colombo on Tuesday.

From Barron's Feb. 10, 2026

A game of blackjack, on the other hand, is sensitive to its past.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

An ‘A’ game from the Lakers in Denver?

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 5, 2026

“If you believe you can win with your ‘B’ game, your ‘A’ game shows up.

From Seattle Times Jul. 18, 2023

"I know I'm going to have to play my 'A' game, my best level I've ever played if I want to have a chance against him."

From BBC Jun. 10, 2023

“We knew we had to bring our ‘A’ game for those guys, whatever that looked like,” Mt.

From Washington Post Mar. 6, 2023

It’s got to be your ‘A’ game to have a chance.

From Washington Times Dec. 5, 2021

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