top-tier

American

[top-teer] / ˈtɒpˈtɪər /

adjective

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.

“I like to say it’s just small steps but 65 is top tier in the country. I was throwing 60 consistently in practice so I knew I could do it.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

Morgan as the rest of the top tier of banks leading the deal together.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

But a system that works primarily for the top tier is less a development system than a sorting mechanism.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Nabongo is a Delta Diamond Medallion member — the top tier of Delta fliers — but she doesn’t always believe she is treated like one.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Then it cuts to five game analysts sitting around in the top tier of the Tokyo Dome, in a heated debate over which team would win and why.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023