top-line

1 of 2

adjective

1
a
: most featured or prominently advertised : leading
… its oldest top-line act, the Rolling Stones, has long been taken as a symbol of the excesses of rock's nightmare side.Ethan Mordden
b
: of the highest quality, level, or degree : top-of-the-line
The lauded ladies received top-line Southern hospitality …Tim Allis
The new chips may well make moderately priced workhorse computers—the type many people buy—perform more like today's top-line models.Consumer Reports
2
business : relating to or concerned with gross sales or revenue
For real value creation, the merged company has to produce top-line growth and better margins through superior offerings to customers.Geoffrey Colvin

top line

2 of 2

noun

variants or less commonly topline
plural top lines also toplines
1
business : the line at the top of a financial report that shows gross sales or revenue before the deduction of expenses or losses
The top line is weak, with a meager 0.3% sales gain last year, to $669 million, which doesn't even keep up with inflation.Jack Gage
When I first started writing about business, earnings stories focused on two numbers: sales (the top line on a company's income statement) and net income (the bottom line, after deducting all expenses including taxes).Kathleen Pender
compare bottom line sense 2a
2
usually topline : the outline of the top of the body of an animal (such as a dog or horse)
A long-legged, long-moving individual with long topline is considered the optimum type for the horse show.Linda Connors

Examples of top-line in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
Misalignment Reversal This shift suggests that previous management may have prioritized top-line growth or market share above all else. Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 The deal also created cap room to trade for top-line winger Jake Guentzel’s rights and sign him to a seven-year deal, all while allowing face-of-the-franchise Steven Stamkos to leave for Nashville. Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025 The Ducks, who had a top-10 pick for a seventh straight year, see the 6-foot-5 McQueen as a raw talent who can develop into a top-line center. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025 That means in almost all cases, minority equity in a sports franchise gets sold at a steep discount, often 35% or more below top-line valuation. Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for top-line

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of top-line was in 1869

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Top-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-line. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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