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top ten

American  
Or top 10

plural noun

  1. the ten most popular songs, records, movies, etc., during a specific period.

  2. the ten best or highest ranked persons, places, or items in a group or category.

adjective

  1. pertaining to, constituting, or being among the top ten.

    a top ten resort.

Etymology

Origin of top ten

First recorded in 1955–60

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.

Marathon Petroleum, Valero, Occidental Petroleum, EOG, Phillips 66, and Devon Energy are among the top ten performers in the S&P 500 so far in March.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

The company has around 70 luxury stores and additional off-price stores and some 16,830 employees, and believes it is “the largest global partner for nine of the top ten luxury brands,” according to the filing.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

The top ten highest tax-paying businesses accounted for 59% of total receipts in 2024, up from around a third in 2008.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 12, 2025

“The Ed Gein Story” has lingered in the streamer’s list of top ten shows since its debut nearly a month ago, reflective of the robust marketplace for horror.

From Salon • Oct. 29, 2025

“Y’know, I was slated to go top ten in the draft.”

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds

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.