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.

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Etymology

Origin of top-tier

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

top-tier

And this should absolutely not be news of any kind, but recently a leading music magazine posted a news story that announced: “Going to concerts alone is a top-tier human experience.”

From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026

But while top-tier high school programs tried to lure him away, it was never a question.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

For Crescent Energy, the buy bolsters its Eagle Ford position, adding top-tier inventory and meaningful scale directly adjacent to its existing operations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Castleford Tigers complete the Category A clubs as they have risen from 11th in 2025 to eighth and move into the top-tier section despite finishing 13th in Super League.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 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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Related Words

• blue-ribbon
• first string
• first-class
• first-rate
• five-star
• outstanding
• top-flight
• top-level
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-ranking
• world-beating
• world-class

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