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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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 French luxury group was Capsum’s first client and remains its top client. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 The south shined in this ranking with several southern towns ranking in the top five including Austin, Texas, which topped the list. — Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Noun
Miami will extend its first return to the top of the AP Top 25 poll since 2002 after beating Pitt 52-23. — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 25 Oct. 2026 One of northern California’s favorite playgrounds, just a two-hour drive from the Sacramento area, is near the top of the list of spiritual landscapes. — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Verb
Advertisement One model might top the leaderboards, but a thousand weaker models could wreak far more havoc. — Noah Giansiracusa, Time, 26 Oct. 2026 The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for nine consecutive weeks, became an instant hallmark of the mid-2000s, and cemented Ne-Yo’s brand of heartfelt autofiction. — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 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
  • On September 19, Miller’s forecast gave the Republicans an almost 36% chance of retaining control of the upper chamber.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Nairobi police chief Issa Mohamud said the building had more than 10 upper floors under construction.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of upper
Adjective
  • This seems like a perfectly reasonable debate/dialogue/deliberation to have without everybody--well, most bodies--running for the exits.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Unlike most New York governors, Hochul is not from New York City or its suburbs, but hails from the Buffalo area -- a more than six-hour drive away.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of most
Adjective
  • Cohen said taking the American atelier’s techniques and pushing them forward was of the utmost importance, also seen through a great selection of sculptural leather layers.
    — Emily Mercer, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • For children who have survived one of the most brutal wars imaginable, choosing an appropriate film is of the utmost importance.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of utmost
Adjective
  • His 28-yard touchdown reception from Sam Darnold late in the second quarter beat Delane, who had excellent position.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The biggest key for the Brewers in this game is to see if their bullpen can keep their excellent pitching alive.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of excellent
Adjective
  • But this was apparently not the case, as per Victoria Secret’s chief creative officer Adam Selman.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Bassetti also confirmed that Lucas Green will stay on as chief content officer for operations, James Townley as chief content officer for development and Kate Humphreys as chief communications officer.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of chief
Noun
  • Holding the small tab doesn’t do a thing to pull the lid off despite trying with all my might.
    — Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Step 4 Place a rack in middle of oven, then set a large ovenproof Dutch oven with a lid on it; preheat oven to 400°.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of lid
Noun
  • This is followed by pilot projects, which, if successful, would then be scaled up across entire departments, until finally the company reaches the pinnacle of maturity with entire ways of working reimagined for an AI-ready future.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • This being a pinnacle, if invitation-only, event of the country music calendar, star power was ever present.
    — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Verb
  • The blowout news from SpaceX’s Q3 earnings wasn’t the rocket and AI giant’s outstanding performance that far exceeded even the analysts’ elevated expectations, but Elon Musk’s revelation that SpaceX and Tesla are weighing a merger.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The fires that burned above the Rio Ruidoso watershed far exceeded that threshold.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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