Synonyms

name of the game

American

noun

Informal.

the essential element, consideration, or ultimate purpose; key.

Profit is the name of the game in business.

Etymology

Origin of name of the game

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

Bargain hunting is the name of the game.

From MarketWatch

For the brigade, the name of the game is community buy-in.

From Los Angeles Times

“If we’re going up there just trying to hit home runs, it’s just not the name of the game,” Freeman said.

From Los Angeles Times

Nine match rounds of the Premier League season have taken place and scoring from set-pieces has so far been the name of the game.

From BBC

If AI usage is expected to surge in the coming years, “efficiency is going to be the name of the game,” and OpenAI’s custom chip will have to “really excel” in that aspect, Windsor said.

From MarketWatch

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