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

The makeup is top-tier, the Aaliyah swoop bang is swooping, and the jewelry accents stand out without doing too much, which is usually her weak spot. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

The game between the 9th and 11th-placed teams in the 16-team Allsvenskan division is a rarity in Europe’s top-tier leagues. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Morejon, 28, formed a top-tier duo alongside Mason Miller with the San Diego Padres. — Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026

Arthur Greenberg helped transform the Los Angeles legal and civic landscape by channeling the success and resources built through his highly lucrative career as a top-tier attorney. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above