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

One Piece executive producer Tetsu Fujimura mapped out the massive growth of Japanese IP in a TIFFCOM keynote today, advising that while many of the big properties may already be licensed, attention is shifting to the next tier where there’s huge potential. —Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025

Currently sporting a 2-5 record (with their two wins coming against Charlotte and Richmond, both lower-tier FCS teams), the Tar Heels were competitive in the Virginia loss, falling in overtime after failing to connect on a 2-point conversion. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Verb

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

Both quarterbacks were ranked in the top 25 of The Athletic’s 2025 college football quarterback tiers this offseason, so expectations were reasonably high for each. —Antonio Morales, New York Times, 9 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