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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.

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'A' game British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of A game

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

A game 'A' game

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame hosts Ayala and standout pitcher Caleb Trugman in the other pool A game.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

A game of energetic ping-pong unfolded underneath the gallery’s fluorescent light, beams of identification, recollections or stabs of grief bouncing off each piece in the exhibition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 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

Lourdes, my older sister, Wants to play A game, a contest Of who can keep A hand in ice.

From "Neighborhood Odes" by Gary Soto

An ‘A’ game from the Lakers in Denver?

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

"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

“If you’re off a bit and you’re not feeling your ‘A’ game, at this level, at night in the icy white, it’s risky as you know so he decided to take a break,” Jankowski said.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 8, 2022

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

From Washington Times ● Dec. 5, 2021