top 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of topnext
1
as in highest
being at a point or level higher than all others an office in the top story of the building the top student in our graduating class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in most
of the greatest or highest degree or quantity your safety is our top priority

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in greatest
of the highest degree going at top speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in excellent
of the very best kind he's one of the tennis club's top players

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in chief
highest in rank or authority nearly all of the top officials in the state's department of corrections resigned after the scandal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

top

2 of 3

noun

ˈtäp How to pronounce top (audio)
1
as in lid
a piece placed over an open container to hold in, protect, or conceal its contents make sure the top is on the blender before you turn it on or you'll make a mess

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2
as in pinnacle
the highest part or point a hawk's nest at the very top of the tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

top

3 of 3

verb

as in to exceed
to be greater, better, or stronger than the next contender's javelin throw topped the reigning champion's and set a new world record

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of top
Adjective
It’s been more than two decades since Georgia Republicans finally broke through and won the state’s top job for the first time since Reconstruction. — Chris Joyner, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026 The Assembly proposal includes docking the bonus packages of not just the CEO, but other top executives, and extending the bonus suspension from one to two years, Bryan said. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
Porsche delivered the machine in 1983, and based on the demand that followed, the manufacturer offered the flat-top look to other customers. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026 Always, near the top of the building, there is a room no one else knows about. — Caleb Crain, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
Beyond the big hair and chart-topping hits, Parton was known as a prolific philanthropist who poured millions into causes ranging from childhood literacy and leukemia to disaster relief and the preservation of bald eagles. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Despite being a different love story, Todd’s After films grossed $170 millioin at the worldwide box office and later topped Netflix’s charts. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for top
Recent Examples of Synonyms for top
  1. upper
  2. most
  3. utmost
  4. excellent
  5. chief
  6. lid
  7. pinnacle
  8. exceed
Adjective
  • The trooper grabs the man by his wrist and his dreadlocks and began yanking his upper body through the window, the video shows.
    — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Soon afterward, the telescope separated successfully from the rocket’s upper stage, drawing applause from ground controllers.
    — Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of upper
Adjective
  • The win was a step in the right direction for a lineup that has struggled at the plate for most of the last two months.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Bryan Danielson was more excited about McGuinness reaching the ropes than most of Wembley Stadium, but Nigel ultimately tapped out.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of most
Adjective
  • Her reputation for excellence and the utmost integrity is well earned.
    — Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And this big step forward in this fix is critical, as these antennae help to connect the space station to Earth, which is of the utmost importance.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of utmost
Adjective
  • Alas, this excellent advice goes into one of Joe’s ears and out the other.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Owls are predators whose eyes are positioned on the front of their heads, giving them excellent depth perception.
    — Abigail Witmer, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • In light of the strong growth and inflation figures, the BOK would likely need to continue to raise rates, albeit with some caution, said Frederic Neumann, chief Asia economist at HSBC.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • After years of analysis, Caltrans has decided to weave strong micropiles into the 499 aging piles that now support the bridge’s piers, said Allan Kosup, chief deputy director of Caltrans District 11 in San Diego and Imperial counties.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of chief
Noun
  • By fields of cotton and soybeans where his bees forage and pollinate, Foster Hensel pries open the lid of one of his beehives, setting off a rising hum from inside.
    — Drew Hawkins, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Koch devised a method for growing bacteria in a shallow glass dish; Julius Petri improved on it by adding a snug lid.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of lid
Noun
  • By Christmas it had been canonized as the pinnacle of ‘sad girl lit’ with Martha taking her place in that post-Fleabag lineage of fractured female characters.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers told me that many Democrats believe that the pinnacle of achievement is having a good education and a fruitful career.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Verb
  • The 70% preliminary expectation wildly exceeded projections for fiscal 2028 revenue of roughly $570 billion, or 44% growth from fiscal 2027 (the current year).
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
  • So far, the decline in enrollment at traditional public school number is even greater than last year and exceeds early projections.
    — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of exceed

Phrases Containing top

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tootsies
top
top banana
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Cite this Entry

“Top.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/top. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about top

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