top gear
noun
British
1
: a vehicle's highest gear
She got to the highway and shifted into top gear.
2
: a state of great or intense activity
The project is now in top gear.
The party hit top gear when the guest of honour arrived.
Examples of top gear in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At Sunday's Critics Choice Awards, the 2026 awards season entered top gear—and if the consortium of television, radio, and online critics that make up Critics Choice Association is any indication, a showdown between One Battle After Another and Sinners might be in the offing.
—
Eve Batey
january 4, Vanity Fair, 5 Jan. 2026
Without a healthy Purdy pushing the ball vertically, the 49ers’ offense loses its top gear when it is most needed.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Celebrations were in top gear during F1's starry takeover of Sin City
Stars showed out in Las Vegas as F1 took over for its annual Grand Prix in Sin City.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
The highlight of his night was a quick-out, in which Jefferson made the initial defender miss, then cut up field, hit his top gear and went 65 yards to the house for a score.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Aug. 2025
View gallery - 6 images Hoping to push Mars exploration into top gear and do recon for a future crewed landing, AeroVironment has released its concept for a mission consisting of half a dozen autonomous helicopters that would land on the Red Planet under their own power.
—David Szondy
august 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2025
These are not major issues when Vinicius finds top gear.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2025
My grandmother’s formidable facility for denial shifted into top gear.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2025
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Eve Batey
january 4, Vanity Fair, 5 Jan. 2026
Without a healthy Purdy pushing the ball vertically, the 49ers’ offense loses its top gear when it is most needed.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 26 Nov. 2025
Celebrations were in top gear during F1's starry takeover of Sin City
Stars showed out in Las Vegas as F1 took over for its annual Grand Prix in Sin City.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
The highlight of his night was a quick-out, in which Jefferson made the initial defender miss, then cut up field, hit his top gear and went 65 yards to the house for a score.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 23 Aug. 2025
View gallery - 6 images Hoping to push Mars exploration into top gear and do recon for a future crewed landing, AeroVironment has released its concept for a mission consisting of half a dozen autonomous helicopters that would land on the Red Planet under their own power.
—David Szondy
august 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2025
These are not major issues when Vinicius finds top gear.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2025
My grandmother’s formidable facility for denial shifted into top gear.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Top gear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20gear. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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