top hat

noun

Synonyms of top hatnext
: a tall-crowned hat usually of beaver or silk

Examples of top hat in a Sentence

He wore a top hat and tails.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
More recently, Timothée Chalamet donned the top hat and cane in a prequel story, Wonka, exploring the life of the eccentric businessman and magician in an entirely new tale. — Sara Belcher, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026 Set the scene Two six-foot pink elephants hover above a red awning, decked out in top hats and dapper bow ties. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 Ken’s look is finished off with a removable black top hat with red rose detailing. — Tim Chan, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026 Many historians blasted the report as cherry picking instances in a complex that features a central display of the Star Spangled Banner, Abraham Lincoln’s top hat and a wing devoted to the United States’ industrial might. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for top hat

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of top hat was in 1864

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top hat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20hat. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

top hat

noun
: a man's hat with a tall crown

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