tiered
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tiered
Explanation
Something that is arranged in a series of levels or layers is tiered. Towering wedding cakes are often tiered, with the smallest layer at the very top. Stadium or theater seating is tiered — each row of seats is placed slightly above the row in front of it, so that people sitting in the back can see over the heads of the audience members in front. Skirts and dresses sometimes have tiered ruffles, each layer a bit higher than the one beneath it. The adjective tiered comes from tier, or "row," from the Old French tire, "rank or sequence."
Vocabulary lists containing tiered
100 Sideways Miles
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"Novio Boy: Scene 7, Part 1" and "Oranges"
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It's Kind of a Funny Story
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The first is a tiered approach on minors accessing social media.
From Barron's ● Sep. 17, 2026
A proposed new law -- to be formally presented Thursday -- would mean banning minors under 15 from opening their own accounts, with a tiered system of access under parental supervision for younger children.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
The researchers suggested each local groundwater agency identify the smaller farmers, consider exempting those that use minimal water and set fees in a tiered system that allows growers who pump less to pay less.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
Delta has already rolled out such tiered pricing to its higher-end economy Comfort tickets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
She thought it looked more like a tiered wedding cake than an actual place where one could visit.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
