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Synonyms

top dog

American  

noun

  1. a person, group, or nation that has acquired a position of highest authority.

  2. the winner of a competition or rivalry; champion.

    He was determined to be top dog at the swimming meet.

  3. Animal Behavior. the alpha male or alpha female in a dominance hierarchy.

top dog British  

noun

  1. informal the leader or chief of a group

"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
top dog Idioms  

  1. see top banana.

Other Word Forms

  • top-dog adjective

Etymology

Origin of top dog

First recorded in 1885–1900

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.

Sunday, she cashed in some of that currency of success to knock around some top dogs that she knew could take a few jokes at their expense.

From Salon

Berkshire Hathaway announced on Monday a number of changes at the top of the management pyramid, just weeks before Warren Buffett is set to retire as the top dog.

From MarketWatch

"He's officially the top dog, isn't he," former Man City defender Micah Richards asks Alan Shearer.

From BBC

Noem is the top dog in U.S. natural disaster response, which is under fire following deadly floods in Texas.

From Salon

He was the top dog in the division.

From BBC

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.