DictionaryAI

ass

AS/æs/

Pluralasses

10 meanings of ass

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  1. 1
    bottom (body)nounslangvulgarUScountable or uncountable
    The soft part at the back of the body that you sit on.

    My ass hurts from sitting on this hard chair all day.

    These jeans make my ass look huge.

    UsageA rude word. Say bottom to be polite.

    Similarbutt, bottom, behind, backside, buttocks

    Note
  2. 2
    yourselfnounslangvulgarUScountable
    You or another person, especially your body, and also your safety or your job.

    Get your ass over here right now!

    If we lose this client, it's my ass, not yours.

    UsageUsually your ass, his ass. It's your ass means you will be in big trouble.

    Similarbutt, arse

  3. 3
    veryparticleslangvulgarUS
    Added after a describing word to make its meaning much stronger.

    He bought a huge ass TV for the living room.

    That was a long ass day at work.

    UsagePut it between a describing word and a noun: a big ass truck.

  4. 4
    foolish personnouncountable
    A silly or stupid person, or someone who is rude to other people.

    My brother was an ass at dinner and wouldn't stop making fun of everyone.

    I felt like such an ass when I called her by the wrong name.

    UsageMake an ass of yourself means look very silly. It can sound rude.

    Similarfool, idiot, jerk, jackass

    Note
  5. 5
    donkeynouncountable
    A donkey or a similar animal that looks like a horse. Tame ones carry heavy loads.

    The farmer led an ass loaded with sacks of grain down the hill.

    We saw a small herd of wild asses near the desert road.

    UsageMost people say donkey.

    Similardonkey

    Note
  6. 6
    rear openingnounslangvulgarUScountable or uncountable
    The opening at the back of the body where solid waste comes out.

    He told the rude man to shove his complaint up his ass.

    The vet put a thermometer up the dog's ass to check for a fever.

    Similararse, butt, asshole

    Note
  7. 7
    sexnounslangvulgarUSuncountable
    Sex, or a person thought of only as a body to have sex with.

    He only goes to parties to look for ass.

    Those guys talk about women like they are just a piece of ass.

    UsageCommon phrases: a piece of ass, get some ass.

    Similarsex, tail, pussy

    Note
  8. 8
    poor qualityadjectiveslangvulgarUS
    Really bad, or of low quality.

    That movie was ass, and I want my money back.

    Our team's defense is ass this year.

    Similargarbage, terrible, awful, lousy

    Oppositegood, great

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 9
    poor qualitynounslangvulgarUSuncountable
    Used after like to say that something is bad or not nice.

    I slept badly and feel like ass this morning.

    His old gym bag smells like ass.

    UsageFeel like ass means feel very bad. Act like an ass means act like a fool.

    Similarcrap, shit, garbage, hell

  2. 10
    nounobsolete
    A worker who set the metal letters in order before a page was printed.
    Sometimes by way of joke, and sometimes by way of irritation, compositors are called Asses by the pressmen.
    [1841, William Savage, Dictionary of the Art of PrintingHere, Asses refers to the workers who set the type for printed pages.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of ass apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 4–5

It comes from Old English assa, which came through Celtic from the Latin word asinus. Calling a stupid person an ass comes from the animal's old reputation for being stubborn.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Meanings 1–3, 6–9

It is another form of arse, which goes back to Old English ærs. The spelling shows the r sound dropping out in speech, as in cuss from curse.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 3 facts