top

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
a(1)
: the highest point, level, or part of something : summit, crown
(2)
: a garment worn on the upper body
(3)
: the head of a plant
especially : the aboveground part of a plant having edible roots
beet tops
(4)
: the head or top of the head
used especially in the phrase top to toe
b(1)
: the highest or uppermost region or part
(2)
: the upper end, edge, or surface
2
: a fitted, integral, or attached part or unit serving as an upper piece, lid, or covering
3
a(1)
: the highest position (as in rank or achievement)
(2)
: a person or thing at the top
b
tops plural : aces and kings in a hand or the three highest honors in a suit
4
a
: the part that is nearest in space or time to the source or beginning
b
: the first half of an inning in baseball
5
a
: the highest degree or pitch conceivable or attained : acme, pinnacle
b
: the loudest or highest range of a sound
6
: the choicest part : cream, pick
7
a
: a platform surrounding the head of a lower mast that serves to spread the topmast rigging, strengthen the mast, and furnish a standing place for men aloft
b
: a comparable part of the superstructure
especially : such a part on a warship used as a fire-control station or antiaircraft gun platform
8
: a forward spin given to a ball (as in golf or billiards) by striking it on or near the top or above the center
also : the stroke so given
9
: a fundamental quark that has an electric charge of + 2/3 and a measured energy of approximately 175 GeV
also : the flavor characterizing this particle
topped adjective

top

2 of 5

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or being at the top : uppermost
2
: chief, leading
one of the world's top journalists
3
: of the highest quality, amount, or degree
top value
top form

top

3 of 5

verb

topped; topping

transitive verb

1
a
: to be or become higher than : overtop
tops the previous record
b
: to be superior to : excel, surpass
c
: to gain ascendancy over : dominate
2
a
: to cover with a top or on the top : provide, form, or serve as a top for
b
: to supply with a decorative or protective finish or final touch
c
: to resupply or refill to capacity
usually used with off
topped off the tank
d
: to complete the basic structure of (something, such as a high-rise building) by putting on a cap or uppermost section
usually used with out or off
e
: to bring to an end or climax
usually used with off
the event was topped off with a relay racePaula Rodenas
3
: to remove or cut the top of
especially : to shorten or remove the top of (a plant) : pinch sense 1b
4
a
: to rise to, reach, or be at the top of
b
: to go over the top of : clear, surmount
5
: to strike (a ball) above the center thereby imparting topspin

intransitive verb

1
: to make an end, finish, or conclusion
2
: to reach a summit or crest
usually used with off or out

top

4 of 5

noun (2)

: a commonly cylindrical or conoidal device that has a tapering point on which it is made to spin and that is used especially as a toy

top-

5 of 5

combining form

variants or topo-
1
: place : locality
topology
toponymy
2
: topology
topoisomerase
Phrases
off the top of one's head
: in an impromptu manner
sat down and wrote the … story off the top of his headJerome Beatty, Jr.
on top of
1
a
: in control of
acted like a man on top of his jobNewsweek
b
: informed about
tried to keep on top of new developments
2
: in sudden and unexpected proximity to
the deadline was on top of them
3
: in addition to
on top of the world
: in a position of eminent success, happiness, or fame
over the top
: beyond the bounds of what is expected, usual, normal, or appropriate

Examples of top in a Sentence

Adjective They live on the top floor of the building. the top news story of the day the country's top three car manufacturers He is among the top pitchers of the league. Safety is our top concern. The winner showed top form. Houses are selling at top prices. What is the car's top speed? Verb Donations are expected to top $1,000,000 by the end of the month. The song has topped the charts for seven weeks. They topped the other company's offer. She tops everyone else on the team. I've seen some pretty weird things in my life—but that tops everything!
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
To create these sight lines—and showcase the original windows, which run from the floors to nearly the top of the towering ceilings—Gasparini took down several walls. Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 16 Mar. 2024 The Anyone But You actress kept the attention towards the detailed top and only wore a pair of small huggie hoop earrings. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Sprinkle the top with the spice packet if one is provided. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 15 Mar. 2024 The national outlet announced a handful of its 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards on Wednesday, with the Cincinnati Zoo ranking at or near the top in three categories: best botanical garden, best zoo and best zoo exhibit. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 15 Mar. 2024 Blossoming out of beautifully twisted locs are four extra-thick braids, brought together at the base near the top of the head, and tied off at the ends to leave several inches of straight hair. Marci Robin, Allure, 15 Mar. 2024 The tankini top features a retro twist on the front and criss-cross straps in the back, which are adjustable to find the best fit for your body. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 Underwire Bikini Top This Wild Fable bikini top is a charming choice thanks to its pointelle design and front bow feature. Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 Use your fingertips or a small spatula to push the egg yolks through a wire-mesh sieve over the top, or simply crumble them. Sheri Castle, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024
Adjective
License plate, registration, red light and stop sign violations were also among the top reasons pursuits started. Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024 With The Hollywood Reporter on the carpet and inside the room, here are the top things the TV cameras didn’t show at the ceremony, hosted by Queen Latifah. Anaja I. Smith, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2024 One of the anchors was Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s longtime top political adviser, who was recently attacked by assailants with a hammer outside of his home in Vilnius, Lithuania. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 The state of the economy, a perennial centerpiece of presidential electioneering, is cited more than any other issue as the top concern in Nevada, which saw its unemployment rate spike to more than 30% during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Benjamin Oreskes, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Sam Liccardo Former San Jose mayor is top vote-getter in primary to succeed Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, and prepares for November as the close race for second between Joe Simitian and Evan Low could take weeks to tally. Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 Friday's jackpot would have been the sixth-largest in the game's history, with the top five all north of one billion dollars. Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2024 Issues related to teacher retention and recruitment are top of mind for Franklin candidates. Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024 As the top financial executive, responsible for strategic financial planning, risk management, and financial reporting. Costs, Time, and Commitment Many MBA programs require substantial money, time, and effort. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
Verb
The sequel topped the Billboard 200 with 228,000 album-equivalent units sold in the first week to close out 2023. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2024 Less than 24 hours later, on Saturday, the track topped the iTunes Top Song charts in 87 countries and territories, his agency, BigHit Music, reported. Patrick Frater, Variety, 18 Mar. 2024 Of the seven albums she’s released since her debut in 2013, all but Dangerous Woman have topped the album chart. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 18 Mar. 2024 There’s also Zahra—roasted cauliflower topped with tahini and roasted pine nuts—and of course, falafel. Laura Ness, The Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2024 In 2005, Charles de Gaulle topped yet another poll asking to pick the greatest French figure in history. Brian Murphy, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Allen has topped 1,000 yards and 100 receptions in a single season five times each and is coming off his most productive year yet, despite missing the final four games because of a heel injury. Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Many are topped with the city's signature yellow coleslaw. Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 15 Mar. 2024 Typically, such a feat requires speeds topping 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour). Jackie Wattles, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'top.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German zopf tip, tuft of hair

Noun (2)

Middle English, from Old English

Combining form

Greek, from topos

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of top was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near top

Cite this Entry

“Top.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

top

1 of 4 noun
1
a
: the highest point, level, or part of something
the top of the hill
sang at the top of her voice
b
: the upper end, edge, or surface
the top of the page
filled the glass to the top
c
: the stalk and leaves of a plant and especially one with edible roots
beet tops
2
: an upper piece, lid, or covering
blouses, shirts, and tops
put the top on the jar
3
: the highest position
reached the top of the profession
topped adjective

top

2 of 4 verb
topped; topping
1
: to remove or cut the top of
top a tree
2
: to cover with a top or on the top
topped the sundae with nuts
3
: to be better than
4
: to go over the top of
5
: to hit the top part of
top a golf ball

top

3 of 4 adjective
: of, relating to, or being at the top

top

4 of 4 noun
: a child's toy that has a point on which it can be made to spin
Etymology

Noun

Old English top "highest point"

Noun

Old English top "a spinning toy"

More from Merriam-Webster on top

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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