top dog

noun

: 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

In tech, Nvidia's may be the top dog in the AI hardware space, but other players have been making some breakthroughs, like AMD. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 July 2026

Here, the iconic Sandy Lane has long been the island's top dog, pulling in an exclusive clientele. — Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Being top dog on the local council, however, is not the same as world domination. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 July 2026

To pick the top dog, Wirecutter's Katie Quinn and Kathleen Squires joined forces with chef José Andrés founder of World Central Kitchen, to judge the regional specialties. — Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for top dog

• agog
• backlog
• bulldog
• bullfrog
• eclogue
• eggnog
• groundhog
• hedgehog
• leapfrog
• prolog
• sheepdog
• watchdog