Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • 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:

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 can't happen without two kits that distinguish the sides, and when you realise you can collect those, you think, I'm actually collecting pieces of a club's history."

From BBC Apr. 25, 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

A game between two older girls’ teams was winding up on a nearby field.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

An ‘A’ game from the Lakers in Denver?

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 5, 2026

"We believe in ourselves. We believe can win. We just have bring our 'A' game to beat these guys."

From BBC May 21, 2025

“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

“We didn’t bring our ‘A’ game, both offensively and defensively,” Ewing said.

From Washington Post Mar. 20, 2021

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training