top-tier

adjective

ˈtäp-ˈtir 

: of the highest level or rank with regard to quality, reputation, or importance

Top-tier wines are the result of artisanal production techniques that demand rigorous attention to detail and, on occasion, financial sacrifice.

—Daniel Sogg

In general, the top-tier schools measure their success by the salaries that their graduates earn …

—Peter Baida

… leave fellow Republicans open to attack on what's shaping up as a top-tier issue in the 2008 elections.

—Mark Hertsgaard

Yes, this Kansas team is loaded with top-tier talent …

—Joe Posnanski

Kemp's first objective, his handlers said, was to establish himself as a top-tier contender.

—Lucy Howard>

Examples of top-tier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the reality is that top-tier players rarely make it to July 1, so teams have to measure the risk-reward of penciling in any 2026 free agents. —Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 22 May 2025

Last year, top-tier sponsor and software firm Salesforce split less than three years into their seven-year partnership. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 22 May 2025

The partnership will create the largest academic pediatric department in Florida. ▪ Strategic expansion: Nicklaus aims to deepen its presence in South Florida, ensuring children receive top-tier care without leaving the state. —Miami Herald Archive, Miami Herald, 22 May 2025

Along with Pulse Films, the production assets make Vice a top-tier producer of commercials and music videos. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above