Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

in spades

/ɪn ˈspeɪds/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.14 in modern English

Syllables: in- s-pades
IPA: /ɪn ˈspeɪds/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

prep_phrase

In large quantities; to a high degree; to excess, without restraint.

prep_phrase

Example Sentences

"Last year we harvested almost no potatoes, but this year we're getting them in spades."
""He is three times that bad in spades," I said. "He ain't washed his socks in four months for one thing," […]"
"Character the hotel has in spades. It begins at the parking lot, where bison roam."
"This caution hurt JPMorgan's profits at the time but paid off in spades in 2009, as the bank earned $8.5 billion in the first three quarters."

Etymology

From the card game of bridge, in which spades is the highest suit. Perhaps influenced by phrases with similar meaning, in spadefuls or in spate.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪn ˈspeɪds/
British English: /ɪn ˈspeɪds/

Frequently Paired Words

spadeloads

Synonyms

in droves abundantly but good decidedly unquestionably emphatically definitely by all odds

Questions

How do you pronounce in spades?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪn ˈspeɪds/.
What does in spades mean?: In large quantities; to a high degree; to excess, without restraint.
Where does in spades come from?: From the card game of bridge, in which spades is the highest suit. Perhaps influenced by phrases with similar meaning, in spadefuls or in spate.

How to pronounce in spades

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “in spades”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪn ˈspeɪds/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “in spades”.
Repeat and practice — Say “in spades” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.