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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.

He noted that Nvidia remains the “clear top dog in AI chips,” and CEO Jensen Huang is likely to “remind the market who’s in charge” when the company posts fourth-quarter earnings tomorrow.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026

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 • Dec. 8, 2025

"Well, he's a top dog in 2025 - absolutely, yeah," Shearer replies coyly, before the pair and Gary Lineker erupt into fits of giggles.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025

But since 2022 Frenchies have been top dog, with Labs and golden retrievers settling for silver and bronze.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

Supposedly, he’s the top dog in his field.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

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.