atop

American  

[uh-top] / əˈtɒp /

adjective

1. on or at the top.

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preposition

1. on the top of.

   atop the flagpole.

atop British  

/ əˈtɒp /

adverb

1. on top; at the top

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preposition

1. on top of; at the top of

Etymology

Origin of atop

First recorded in 1650–60; a- ¹ + top ¹

Explanation

Use the adverb atop when something is on the top of something else. You could say, for example, "I'm standing atop of the chicken coop, getting ready to jump in that pile of leaves." The word atop is somewhat old fashioned, but it's still a good way to describe being at the very top of something. You might live atop of the highest hill in town, or enjoy looking out your window to watch birds land atop of the garage. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the word was spelled with a hyphen: a-top. It took its current form, atop, in the nineteenth century.

Example Sentences

A pen and a contract lay atop the metal, ready for a forced signature, while the man’s fiancee and her father watch in silence, seeking revenge on the person who betrayed them.

From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026

On Tuesday, pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his last sermon, enduring temperatures of 45C.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Sitting atop the RCA Building, today better known as 30 Rock, the ironworkers were not as free-flying as they seem: The author suggests there would have been planks about 12 feet below.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

And, as they sit atop the standings yet again, the Rays hope a resolution is near.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

She remembered being small, sitting atop her father’s shoulders one morning as he’d explained that they were going on an adventure.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray