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Synonyms

tops

American  
[tops] / tɒps /

adjective

  1. ranked among the highest, as in ability, performance, comprehensiveness, or quality.

    His work is tops. That car is tops.

adverb

  1. at a maximum; at most.

    It'll take an hour, tops. I'll give you $25 for that, tops.

noun

  1. the tops. top.

tops British  
/ tɒps /

noun

  1. a person or thing of top quality

"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

adjective

  1. (postpositive) excellent; superb

"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

Etymology

Origin of tops

First recorded in 1930–35; plural of top 1

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.

Constellation Brands gains after the U.S. beer importer tops quarterly earnings estimates, overshadowing weak guidance.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

This often results in entertaining, informative work: Acquired, a deeply researched show by two starry-eyed tech investors, regularly tops podcast charts with dives into famous companies.

From Slate • Apr. 7, 2026

The crop tops were inspired by "seeing lots of fans cutting jerseys and re-sewing them to get the fit they wanted", says Handy.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

In the U.S., most public charging infrastructure tops out around 350 kW.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

They were still a little under a half mile from the borderlands, but already he could see the tops of the Greater Jungle's oldest and tallest pines peeking above rooftops.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

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.