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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 of football, but also a fascinating and complex game of psychology.

From BBC Jun. 21, 2026

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

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

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

From BBC May 21, 2025

“And it’s always the big moments that are the most important. You’re not always going to be on your ‘A’ game, but it just gets something going in me.”

From Washington Times Nov. 7, 2023

“I need to be on my ‘A’ game because there’s more on the line now than a boxing fight,” Fury has said.

From Seattle Times Oct. 25, 2023

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

From Washington Post Mar. 20, 2021

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