tier

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtir 

1

a

: a row, rank, or layer of articles

especially : one of two or more rows, levels, or ranks arranged one above another

b

: a group of political or geographic divisions that form a row across the map

the southern tier of states

2

: class, category

tier

2 of 3

verb

tiered; tiering; tiers

transitive verb

: to place or arrange in tiers

intransitive verb

: to rise in tiers

tier

3 of 3

noun (2)

ti·​er ˈtī(-ə)r 

variants or tyer

: one that ties

Synonyms of tier

Noun (1)

• type
• category
• kind

Examples of tier in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the bottom tier of entrants

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Such a measure will help convince Putin that the United States will not relegate Russia to a secondary tier of interest once the war is resolved. —Thomas Graham, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2025

The annual household income needed to qualify for a mortgage on a mid-tier California home was about $237,000 in June 2025, a recent analysis found – over twice the state’s median household income. —Ivis Garcia, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025

Verb

An undefeated season for the first team could see Leyton Orient skip tier six altogether next season, earning promotion directly to tier five by application if adequate infrastructure is in place. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Why not tier the incentives to achieve some deeper affordability? —Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French tire rank, from Old French — more at attire

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1569, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1889, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

1633, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tier

• top-tier

Rhymes for tier

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear

Kids Definition

tier

1 of 3 noun

ˈti(ə)r 

: a row, rank, or layer usually arranged in a series one above the other

tiered

ˈti(ə)rd

adjective

tier

2 of 3 verb

1

: to place or arrange in tiers

2

: to rise in tiers

tier

3 of 3 noun

ti·​er

variants or tyer

ˈtī(-ə)r

: a person or thing that ties