tip-top

1 of 3

noun

ˈtip-ˈtäp 

-ˌtäp

plural tip-tops

: the highest point

If I had known how to climb rocks, … I would have climbed to the very tip-top of Arethusa Falls to see what the water looked like before it dropped over the ledge.

—Ann Beattie

Disembarking from the vessel, the sun is perfectly situated behind the tip-top of the Eiffel Tower.

—Eric Althoff

(figurative) … two people who were both—blithely, at times—at the very tip-top of Southern society.

—Meredith Grahl Counts

tip-top

2 of 3

adjective

: very good : excellent, first-rate

a car in tip-top condition

Besides training their dogs, mushers have to get their sleds in tip-top shape for race day …

—Sallie Luther

Tip-top health that stands the test of time requires a sensible diet …

—Frances Sheridan Goulart

tip-top

3 of 3

adverb

: very well

"Oh," was the reply, "John was doing very well. … He was out of debt and doing tip-top."

—John Harrison

Synonyms

Noun

• acme
• apex
• apogee
• capstone
• climax
• crescendo
• crest
• crown
• culmination
• head
• height
• high noon
• high-water mark
• meridian
• ne plus ultra
• noon
• noontime
• peak
• pinnacle
• sum
• summit
• top
• zenith

Adjective

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of tip-top in a Sentence

Noun

this trail will take you to the fire tower at the tip-top of that hill

Adjective

the doctor told me I was in tip-top shape

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For months, Katzenberg has not only been bragging about his intimate access to the President but assuring anyone who would listen (and write a check) that Biden was in tip-top mental shape. —Lachlan Cartwright, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 July 2024

The footage of the actor’s journey to the top of the building really puts the scale of the structure into perspective—and shows off the truly one of a kind views available from the very tip-top. —Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 11 July 2024

If using a vacuum cleaner on granite floors, make sure that attachments and wheels are in tip-top shape; worn equipment can scratch granite. —Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2024

Use these harvesting tips to keep your fruit in tip-top shape and make picking figs a bit easier. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

tip entry 3 + top

First Known Use

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1722, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1855, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tip-top

1 of 2 noun

ˈtip-ˈtäp,

-ˌtäp

: the highest point

tip-top

2 of 2 adjective

: very good : excellent

in tip-top shape

tip-top adverb