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.
Tiered rewards aim to fix that by escalating benefits.
From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026
Tiered steps lead to the balcony, where she zip-tied planter boxes to the railing to create a garden.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2024
Tiered plans offer workers a discount to seek care at lower priced or more efficient hospitals.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 17, 2019
Tiered skirts, tufted tulle, and gentle pleats floated comfortably down the red carpet—or, at least, they looked comfortable.
From Slate • Feb. 24, 2019
Tiered trays hold buttons, lace, ribbons, gems, jewels, and hundreds of other baubles.
From "The Belles" 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.
