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

---

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

A game that started at 17:00 local time finally ended at 20:47 because of safety concerns amid adverse weather conditions.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 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 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

The game was only confirmed as going ahead late on Monday night after the Islamabad government made a U-turn on its order to boycott the blockbuster Group A game.

From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026

A game of darts which was going on at the other end of the room interrupted itself for perhaps as much as thirty seconds.

From "1984" by George Orwell

An ‘A’ game from the Lakers in Denver?

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

“It was awesome - getting that deep in the ballgame without what I would say is his ‘A’ game tonight.”

From Washington Times ● Jul. 29, 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

“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