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

Qatar has hosted world championships in most top-tier Olympic sports, including soccer’s 2022 World Cup. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Despite top-tier directors including Robert King, Ron Underwood and John Dahl, there’s a visual blandness throughout. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

The first film in 2015 as a surprise hit featuring not only strong performances from its three leads, but also launching Denis Villeneuve as a top-tier director. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Beyond that, its balance of top-tier audio and easily good-enough image quality and brightness for the price earns the P1 our Editors' Choice award for a 1080p room-to-room portable. — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 4 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above