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
The bipartisan congressional bill cut tax rates, setting the top individual tax rate lower than the corporate tax rate. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026 Gary Hershorn | Corbis News | Getty Images United Airlines is getting rid of one path to achieve elite status in 2027 and making its top tier harder to reach. — Caleigh Keating, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Noun
Carl drops onto the couch, pulls Maribeth down on top of him. — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026 Hennadii Synchuk scored on a first-touch shot from the top of the penalty box to give Montreal a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. — ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
The entrance has a double-height ceiling topped with glass, while the main living room is two stories tall with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the garden. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026 Try topping with a plop of Greek yogurt or some shards of feta. — Emma Laperruque, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 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
  • Scheduled for completion in summer 2027, the expansion will support annual production of up to 150 upper stages.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • First responders took the victim to Fawcett Memorial Hospital with a severe cut measuring four to six inches from his left cheek down to his neck, alongside a minor laceration to his upper chest, police said.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of upper
Adjective
  • That means most people are exposed to AI’s downsides — rising electricity costs, potential job disruption — without any claim on its upside.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • However, according to most opinion polls, the election is too close to call.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of most
Adjective
  • The safety of those who work and live in prison is of utmost importance.
    — Scott Peyton, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Korean hair care places utmost emphasis on scalp care, and the Scalp Revitalizing Solution Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner are prime examples.
    — Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of utmost
Adjective
  • Her shoes are already a favorite among industry insiders for their sleek appeal and excellent construction.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In late September, the concept was thrust back into the public consciousness thanks to a Variety interview with actor Jack Innanen, who plays the Canadian himbo Paul Baker on the excellent sitcom Adults.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • An area attorney and former chief public defender who was arrested earlier this year on multiple felony drug charges after a raid on his residence was arrested again early Monday on drug and gun charges following a traffic stop.
    — Steven Mross, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The festival’s advisory group includes director Dan Löwenstein, founder of House of Create, vertical drama critic and consultant Jen Cooper of Vertical Drama Love, and Christine Hartland, co-founder and chief operating officer of My Smash Media.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of chief
Noun
  • FinalPress is a micro French press made of stainless steel (and zero plastic) that can brew hot, iced, or cold brew coffee anywhere, and comes with a unique bottom-lid ejection system for easy cleaning.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Formlabs intends each resin to have its own dedicated tank, and every tank includes a lid for storing material between uses.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of lid
Noun
  • The Atlanta Dream will take the court this weekend for their first WNBA Finals game in 13 years, a pinnacle achievement for the franchise with the lowest valuation in the league still undergoing a massive turnaround.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The change in the workweek system is regarded as the pinnacle of those initiatives.
    — Mauricio Savarese, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Verb
  • Its quality factor, a measure of how efficiently an optical resonator stores light, exceeds 163 million.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • In May 2026, atmospheric carbon dioxide exceeded 428 parts per million, roughly 50% above pre-industrial levels and generally higher than any time in the last 2 million years.
    — Simmone Shah, Time, 14 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2026.

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