1
b(1)
: the highest or uppermost region or part
(2)
: the upper end, edge, or surface
2
: a fitted, integral, or attached part or unit serving as an upper piece, lid, or covering
3
a(1)
: the highest position (as in rank or achievement)
(2)
: a person or thing at the top
b
tops plural
: aces and kings in a hand or the three highest honors in a suit
4
a
: the part that is nearest in space or time to the source or beginning
b
: the first half of an inning in baseball
5
7
a
: a platform surrounding the head of a lower mast that serves to spread the topmast rigging, strengthen the mast, and furnish a standing place for men aloft
b
: a comparable part of the superstructure
especially
: such a part on a warship used as a fire-control station or antiaircraft gun platform
8
: a forward spin given to a ball (as in golf or billiards) by striking it on or near the top or above the center
also
: the stroke so given
9
: a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of + 2/3 and a measured energy of approximately 175 GeV
also
: the flavor characterizing this particle
topped; topping
1
2
a
: to cover with a top or on the top : provide, form, or serve as a top for
b
: to supply with a decorative or protective finish or final touch
c
: to resupply or refill to capacity
—usually used with off
topped off the tank
d
: to complete the basic structure of (something, such as a high-rise building) by putting on a cap or uppermost section
—usually used with out or off
e
: to bring to an end or climax
—usually used with off
the event was topped off with a relay race—
Paula Rodenas
Paula Rodenas3
: to remove or cut the top of
especially
: to shorten or remove the top of (a plant) : pinch sense 1b
5
: to strike (a ball) above the center thereby imparting topspin
1
: to make an end, finish, or conclusion
2
: to reach a summit or crest
—usually used with off or out
: a commonly cylindrical or conoidal device that has a tapering point on which it is made to spin and that is used especially as a toy
variants
or topo-
1
: place : locality
topology
toponymy
2
: topology
topoisomerase
Phrases
off the top of one's head
: in an impromptu manner
sat down and wrote the … story off the top of his head—Jerome Beatty, Jr.
Jerome Beatty, Jr.1
a
: in control of
acted like a man on top of his job—Newsweek
Newsweek
b
: informed about
tried to keep on top of new developments
2
: in sudden and unexpected proximity to
the deadline was on top of them
3
: in addition to
: in a position of eminent success, happiness, or fame
: beyond the bounds of what is expected, usual, normal, or appropriate
Synonyms
Examples of top in a Sentence
Adjective
They live on the top floor of the building.
the top news story of the day
the country's top three car manufacturers
He is among the top pitchers of the league.
Safety is our top concern.
The winner showed top form.
Houses are selling at top prices.
What is the car's top speed?
Verb
Donations are expected to top $1,000,000 by the end of the month.
The song has topped the charts for seven weeks.
They topped the other company's offer.
She tops everyone else on the team.
I've seen some pretty weird things in my life—but that tops everything!
See More
Recent Examples on the WebDemetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2023
Ready to take it to the top with her wit, wigs, and energetic moves, this talented wig stylist has done wigs for Drag Race queens Kerri and Sasha Colby, and Beyoncé’s music video dancers.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 6 Dec. 2023
Snowflake, a data cloud company based in Bozeman, Montana, is at the top.
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2023
His memoir, which included the Roberts revelations and chronicled his addiction and sobriety journey, returned to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list in the days after his death.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2023
But an unexpected phone call from an old friend returned Laine to the top in 1971.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2023
Jil Sander bamboo bangle Everyday bracelets are hard to come by, but Jil Sander’s faux bamboo bangle is at the top of our lists.
—Porter Simmons, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023
At the top of our list right now: the KitchenAid Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, a Le Creuset Signature Oval Dutch Oven, a Ring Doorbell Plus, and this rustic barn door TV stand.
—Allison Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2023
Pipe Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream onto each bar, and top with banana rounds and wafers.
—John Somerall, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023
Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 7 Dec. 2023
And the top three categories are dominated by women.
—Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2023
Check out these top science titles from the past year, selected by Smithsonian magazine’s editors and frequent contributors.
—Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2023
In 2014, four of the top five mortgage lenders were banks; in 2022, only Wells Fargo remained in the group, according to the mortgage data analysis firm Recursion.
—Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2023
The top three spenders in the game — the Mets, Yankees and Padres — all were shut out of the postseason.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2023
Our flagship newsletter highlights the best of The New Yorker, including top stories, fiction, humor, and podcasts.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2023
Both Boylston and Mendoza cite movement as a top priority in their street clothes.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023
Hamas has not commented directly on the offer but its top political official, Ismail Haniyeh, said his group was committed to making the truce work.
—Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2023
Nicole Pajer, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Insured damages from the storms had never before topped $50 billion.
—Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
GasBuddy data shows that gas prices actually rose by as much as roughly 60 cents from January to August 2023, topping $3.80 a gallon.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 23 Nov. 2023
Tracking had Wish, an original story with no affiliated IP, topping the Thanksgiving chart with a five-day feast of $45 million to $50 million, but those predictions appear to have been too bullish.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Nov. 2023
Of those, all but one reached the top 10 in the U.K., and two of them topped the survey.
See the full list of dates and ticket info here.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023
The nut-paste filling, at once crumbly and creamy, is enriched with seams of shredded dates and topped by a pockmarked surface of shattered walnuts.
—Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
To top it off, the Switchblade can accommodate two people, plus luggage.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2023
For this iconic dish, often cited as a staple in blogs about local food, rice is slowly simmered in a stock made with fish scraps and topped with fish filets cooked with butter and sage.
—Vittoria Traverso, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
See More
Noun
The Signature Sliding Tote (seen at the top of this page) is the final new offering from the German manufacturer, available in just two colors: black and navy.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 6 Dec. 2023
Ready to take it to the top with her wit, wigs, and energetic moves, this talented wig stylist has done wigs for Drag Race queens Kerri and Sasha Colby, and Beyoncé’s music video dancers.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 6 Dec. 2023
Snowflake, a data cloud company based in Bozeman, Montana, is at the top.
—Alan Murray, Fortune, 5 Dec. 2023
His memoir, which included the Roberts revelations and chronicled his addiction and sobriety journey, returned to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list in the days after his death.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2023
But an unexpected phone call from an old friend returned Laine to the top in 1971.
—Joe Lynch, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2023
Jil Sander bamboo bangle Everyday bracelets are hard to come by, but Jil Sander’s faux bamboo bangle is at the top of our lists.
—Porter Simmons, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023
At the top of our list right now: the KitchenAid Tilt-Head Stand Mixer, a Le Creuset Signature Oval Dutch Oven, a Ring Doorbell Plus, and this rustic barn door TV stand.
—Allison Faccenda, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2023
Pipe Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream onto each bar, and top with banana rounds and wafers.
—John Somerall, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023
Adjective
The black cherry shade is accompanied by a translucent pinkish white, a cherry red, and a sheer peachy pink — and each one is a base coat, polish, and top coat in one little bottle.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 7 Dec. 2023
And the top three categories are dominated by women.
—Mesfin Fekadu, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2023
Check out these top science titles from the past year, selected by Smithsonian magazine’s editors and frequent contributors.
—Bridget Alex, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2023
In 2014, four of the top five mortgage lenders were banks; in 2022, only Wells Fargo remained in the group, according to the mortgage data analysis firm Recursion.
—Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2023
The top three spenders in the game — the Mets, Yankees and Padres — all were shut out of the postseason.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Dec. 2023
Our flagship newsletter highlights the best of The New Yorker, including top stories, fiction, humor, and podcasts.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2023
Both Boylston and Mendoza cite movement as a top priority in their street clothes.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 6 Dec. 2023
Hamas has not commented directly on the offer but its top political official, Ismail Haniyeh, said his group was committed to making the truce work.
—Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2023
Verb
Her go-to is a holiday sangria loaded with fruits, cinnamon sticks and topped with a good brandy.
—Nicole Pajer, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023
Insured damages from the storms had never before topped $50 billion.
—Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 24 Nov. 2023
GasBuddy data shows that gas prices actually rose by as much as roughly 60 cents from January to August 2023, topping $3.80 a gallon.
—Elizabeth Napolitano, CBS News, 23 Nov. 2023
Tracking had Wish, an original story with no affiliated IP, topping the Thanksgiving chart with a five-day feast of $45 million to $50 million, but those predictions appear to have been too bullish.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Nov. 2023
Of those, all but one reached the top 10 in the U.K., and two of them topped the survey.
See the full list of dates and ticket info here.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Nov. 2023
The nut-paste filling, at once crumbly and creamy, is enriched with seams of shredded dates and topped by a pockmarked surface of shattered walnuts.
—Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
To top it off, the Switchblade can accommodate two people, plus luggage.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2023
For this iconic dish, often cited as a staple in blogs about local food, rice is slowly simmered in a stock made with fish scraps and topped with fish filets cooked with butter and sage.
—Vittoria Traverso, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'top.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German zopf tip, tuft of hair
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Old English
Combining form
Greek, from topos
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Adjective
1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of top was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing top
Dictionary Entries Near top
Cite this Entry
“Top.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
top
1 of 4 noun1
a
: the highest point, level, or part of something
the top of the hill
sang at the top of her voice
b
: the upper end, edge, or surface
the top of the page
filled the glass to the top
c
: the stalk and leaves of a plant and especially one with edible roots
beet tops
2
: an upper piece, lid, or covering
blouses, shirts, and tops
put the top on the jar
3
: the highest position
reached the top of the profession
top
2 of 4 verb
topped; topping
1
: to remove or cut the top of
top a tree
2
: to cover with a top or on the top
topped the sundae with nuts
3
: to be better than
4
: to go over the top of
5
: to hit the top part of
top a golf ball
top
3 of 4 adjective
: of, relating to, or being at the top
top
4 of 4 noun
: a child's toy that has a point on which it can be made to spin
Etymology
Noun
Old English top "highest point"
Noun
Old English top "a spinning toy"
More from Merriam-Webster on top
Nglish: Translation of top for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of top for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about top
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