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

Think heli-safaris over volcanic terrain, luxury trains crossing high-altitude plains, wildlife encounters that prioritize access and ethics, and multi-day hikes paired with top-tier lodges and exceptional food. —Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2025

Working from their bedrooms, indie filmmakers can deploy what, until recently, were top-tier visual-effects capabilities. —Nick Geisler, The Atlantic, 30 Dec. 2025

There are top-tier event rental services, and then there are great mom-and-pop shops. —Emily St. Martin, Oc Register, 30 Dec. 2025

Still, while SpaceX’s visions for the moon and Mars may or may not come to pass, the company continues to attract top-tier talent in addition to investor interest. —Ramin Skibba, Scientific American, 26 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above