trumps

/ trʌmps /

plural noun

1. sometimes singular cards any one of the four suits, decided by cutting or bidding, that outranks all the other suits for the duration of a deal or game
2. turn up trumps
   (of a person) to bring about a happy or successful conclusion (to an event, problem, etc), esp unexpectedly

Example Sentences

“This one's pretty easy: federal law — all federal law — trumps all state law,” David S. Cohen, a professor of law at Drexel Kline's School of Law, told Salon.

From Salon

Loyalty to the Communist Party and country, people are told, now trumps the personal ambition that had transformed Chinese society in the last few decades.

From BBC

That view has always been antithetical to the civics purpose of television political debates, but we forgot that long ago, and certainly after candidates figured out how much being telegenic trumps honesty and platform positions.

From Salon

“But if the state and city point in opposite directions, if there is a true conflict, we know that the state law trumps the local ordinance,” Levinson said.

From Los Angeles Times

“Migration trumps everything else,” said Michael Shifter, a former president of Inter-American Dialogue in Washington.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• outdo
• overtake