top dog

noun

Synonyms of top dognext
: a person, group, or thing in a position of authority especially through victory in a hard-fought competition

Examples of top dog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Peacock’s adventures in treachery The Traitors was the top dog, scoring five prizes including Best Competition Series and Best Host for Alan Cumming. Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 3 June 2026 Being the underdog and the top dog is part of every sport, but in tennis, the status is not fixed. Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 3 June 2026 On top of the extra cuddles, the top dogs even have their own baseball trading cards handed out to A's fans and were featured on the big screen during the game. Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 14 May 2026 To get back on top, the Chiefs will have to knock off the top dogs. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for top dog

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of top dog was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20dog. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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