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 New York settlement would funnel funds into a survivor trust and allow individual compensation to be determined through tiered evaluations, with reported averages varying widely depending on severity and documentation.
From Salon • May 3, 2026
Iran's current internet set-up has been described as a "tiered system".
From BBC • May 2, 2026
She supports expanding clean transit options, incentivizing employers to adopt flexible work policies to reduce commute emissions, deploying smart traffic technology and giving small businesses tiered time lines and tax credits to transition.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
United Airlines is rolling out a new tiered fare structure in its premium cabins, as carriers increasingly lean on higher-end seating to drive revenue.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Their eyes devoured Aunt Kitty’s dress, taking in all the flounces, as well as my gorgeous one with its bell sleeves and tiered skirt.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
