top-shelf

adjective

ˈtäp-ˈshelf 

1

: of the best quality

top-shelf products

Reading does have one top-shelf tourist attraction, a gorgeous pagoda that sits atop a mountain.

—Joe Queenan

2

[from the placement of sexually explicit magazines for sale on high shelves out of the reach of children] British : containing pornographic material

top-shelf magazines

This year, retailers are going to come under increased pressure to clean up their acts. Of course, they're not obliged to sell top-shelf mags.

—The Grocer

Synonyms of top-shelf

• excellent
• superb
• terrific
• wonderful
• stellar
• great
• awesome
• lovely
• beautiful
• fabulous
• fantastic
• prime
• fine
• marvelous
• quality
• classic
• hot

Examples of top-shelf in a Sentence

hoping to impress the new neighbors, she brought a top-shelf wine as a housewarming gift

Recent Examples on the Web

Their top-shelf options feature Tequila Ocho Blanco or Lost Explorer mezcal. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 19 Feb. 2026

The moral is, top-shelf talent covers a multitude of sins, not to mention defenses. —Kevin Sherrington feb. 18, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026

Plus on Tuesdays, burgers are buy-one-get-one-free, and on Wednesdays, top-shelf whiskey is 50% off. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

Wisconsin was already on the stronger end of the bubble, buoyed by the victory at Michigan, and backing that one up with another top-shelf Big Ten road triumph was enough to nudge the Badgers up a category. —Jim Root, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for top-shelf

• bookshelf
• herself
• himself
• hisself
• itself
• meself
• myself
• nonself
• oneself
• thyself
• yourself
• elf