Synonyms

A one

American

[ey wuhn] / ˈeɪ ˈwʌn /

Also A-one,

adjective

noting a vessel regarded by a shipping-classification society as being equipped to the highest standard and with equipment maintained in first-class condition.
Informal. Also A number one. first-class; excellent; superior.

The meals there are A one.

A-one Idioms

Also, A-1; A-number-one. First-class, of the best quality, as in This is an A-one steak. The term comes from Lloyd's, the British insurance company, which in its 1775 shipping register designated the condition of a ship's hull by a letter grade (A, B, etc.) and of its cables, anchor, and other equipment by a number grade (1, 2, etc.). By the early 1800s A-1, the best possible grade, was being transferred to anything of superior quality.

Etymology

Origin of A one

First recorded in 1830–40

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.

“Grief is not a one and done nor is it a linear process,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

“Aw, Grandpa,” I said, as I sat down beside him, “you know I don’t have any monkeys. I didn’t catch a one.”

From Literature

“It’s in one of those little books that Grandma gave us. You were supposed to read those books, too; but you never read a one.”

From Literature

Workday stock fell 10% premarket despite strong Q4 earnings, driven by poor Q1 and full-year guidance and a one billion dollar subscription backlog miss.

From Barron's

After growing strongly on the back of massive military spending -- up to nine percent of GDP -- Russia's economy has slowed, posting just a one percent expansion last year.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023