atop

1 of 2

adverb or adjective

ə-ˈtäp How to pronounce atop (audio)
Synonyms of atopnext
: on, to, or at the top

atop

2 of 2

preposition

: on top of

Examples of atop in a Sentence

Preposition The house sits atop a cliff overlooking the ocean.
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.
Adverb or adjective
On one canvas, a woman prunes a plant and a cook tends his stove atop amid a procession of celestial beings. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 Acquired from the Cubs for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor, Rojas is a top-100 prospect and now atop almost every ranking of New York’s best minor-league talent. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Preposition
Her latest track follows her 2025 album, So Close To What, which debuted atop the Billboard 200, marking her first Number One single on the chart. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026 The area is sparsely populated with private estates set atop hills or within canyons, making firefighting access difficult. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for atop

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb Or Adjective

1638, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

1638, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of atop was in 1638

Rhymes for atop

See All Rhymes for atop

Browse Nearby Words

atony
atop
atopic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Atop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atop. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

atop

preposition
ə-ˈtäp
: on top of

More from Merriam-Webster on atop

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for atop

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