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top-tier

American  
[top-teer] / ˈtɒpˈtɪər /

adjective

  1. of or among the highest rank, level, importance, or quality.

    It was again named the top-tier exterior house paint.

    She was sought after by three top-tier college basketball teams.


Etymology

Origin of top-tier

First recorded in 1940–45; top 1 ( def. ) + tier 1 ( def. )

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.

Premium service with an intuitive interface and top-tier security ExpressVPN is our recommended VPN for its balance of high-tier security and effortless usability.

From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026

Vlachovsky, who coached girls and women at top-tier side 1.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

Few top-tier earnings were on tap this week, as well, and analysts are still pricing in roughly the same first and second quarter growth rates that they were at the end of last month.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Americans with top-tier scores above 780 have been a boost to banks, which are increasingly courting high-end customers with offers of credit cards and other loans.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

I wanted the best of both worlds—the thrill and the drama of high school with all my friends and a top-tier gymnastics career.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

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