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Synonyms

tier

1 American  
[teer] / tɪər /

noun

  1. one of a series of rows or ranks rising one behind or above another, as of seats in an amphitheater, boxes in a theater, guns in a man-of-war, or oars in an ancient galley.

  2. one of a number of galleries, as in a theater.

  3. a layer; level; stratum.

    The wedding cake had six tiers.

    All three tiers of the firm's management now report to one director.

  4. Australian. a mountain range.

verb (used with object)

  1. to arrange in tiers.

verb (used without object)

  1. to rise in tiers.

tier 2 American  
[tahy-er] / ˈtaɪ ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that ties.

  2. Nautical. a short rope or band for securing a furled sail.

  3. New England. a child's apron or pinafore.

tier 1 British  
/ tɪə /

noun

  1. one of a set of rows placed one above and behind the other, such as theatre seats

    1. a layer or level

    2. ( in combination )

      a three-tier cake

  3. a rank, order, or row

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to be or arrange in tiers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
tier 2 British  
/ ˈtaɪə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that ties

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tier1

First recorded in 1560–70; earlier also tire, tyre, teare, from Middle French, Old French tire, tiere “order, row, rank,” from Germanic; compare Old English, Old Saxon tīr, Old High German zēri “glory, adornment”

Origin of tier2

First recorded in 1625–35; tie + -er 1

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.

However, net costs for families in this income tier were much lower — $4,600 — at private colleges with large endowments.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Last week, the company also announced a price hike, where its premium tier costs $27 a month.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Israel's famed Iron Dome system is the third tier and was originally designed to intercept short-range rockets and artillery shells.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

"I've always enjoyed playing that way - expressing myself, trying different things," explains Lee Trundle, now 49 but still appearing in the Welsh third tier.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

The tier balanced itself on its edge for an indecisive moment, then toppled.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

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.