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

Noun (1)

• type
• category
• kind

Examples of tier in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the bottom tier of entrants

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Adenstar was involved in the building work to convert Withdean Stadium — then an athletics track — into a stadium temporarily fit for fourth-tier football as the club aimed to return to Brighton. —Andy Naylor, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

Leaders have already mapped tier-one, tier-two, and even some tier-three suppliers, invested in traceability systems, and upgraded PLM and ERP systems to ensure seamless data flow. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 8 Oct. 2025

Verb

Spikes are consistently seen, particularly in the English Football League (EFL, tiers two to four in the men’s footballing pyramid), as supporters seek a football fix over the holiday period. —Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 18 June 2025

While not a part of this bundle, Vow of Absolution expands the game to tier 5 by adding the Adeptus Astartes of the Absolvers chapter as playable character options. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 10 Mar. 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