top

adjectiveusually before noun

UK /tɒp/

1
at or on the highest part of something
Our room is on the top floor.
I can’t reach the top shelf of the cupboard.
the top left-hand corner of the envelope
top half:
The top half of the wall came crashing down.
Synonyms and related words
At a high position or level
high
above
top
2
highest in status, degree, or importance
At top speed, these planes break the sound barrier.
It’s one of the top business schools in the country.
top prize:
He won the top prize.
a top player/scientist/student:
He’s one of the top players in the league.
top priority:
Our top priority now is finding shelter for the flood victims.
Synonyms and related words
Most important
main
basic
primary
3
Britishinformalused about someone who you like very much
She’s a top girl with a great sense of humour.
Synonyms and related words
Loved, liked or wanted very much
dear
desirable
precious
Synonyms and related words
Extremely good or of a high quality
excellent
exceptional
high-grade

top

adjectiveusually before noun

US /tɑp/

1
at or on the highest part of something
Our room is on the top floor.
I can’t reach the top shelf of the closet.
the top left-hand corner of the envelope
top half:
The top half of the wall came crashing down.
Synonyms and related words
At a high position or level
high
above
top
2
highest in status, degree, or importance
At top speed, these airplanes break the sound barrier.
It’s one of the top business schools in the country.
top prize:
He won the top prize.
a top player/scientist/student:
He’s one of the top players in the league.
top priority:
Our top priority now is finding shelter for the flood victims.
Synonyms and related words
Most important
main
basic
primary
3
Britishinformalused about someone who you like very much
She’s a top girl with a great sense of humor.
Synonyms and related words
Loved, liked or wanted very much
dear
desirable
precious
Synonyms and related words
Extremely good or of a high quality
good
excellent
wonderful

phrases

tops

top

noun

UK /tɒp/

Word Forms

singular	top
plural	tops

1
countable usually singularthe highest place, point, part, or surface of something
We could see mountain tops in the distance.
at the top of something:
I left my purse at the top of the stairs.
the very top:
Our cat had climbed to the very top of the tree.
reach the top:
We reached the top of the hill and looked down.
on top (of something):
He sprinkled sugar on top of the cake.
Synonyms and related words
The outer parts of objects or spaces
apex
back
back end
1. 1a
  a flat surface, especially the flat upper surface of a piece of furniture
  You need to wipe down the table tops.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of pieces of furniture
  caster
  castor
  drawer
2

the top
the highest status within a group or organization, or the person in this position
She started as an administrative assistant and worked her way to the top.
at the top of your profession:
He was a man of forty-five, at the top of his profession.
Synonyms and related words
General words for rank and status
paygrade
walk of life
status
3
countable a lid or cover for a container
I’ve lost the top off my shampoo bottle.
Synonyms and related words
Lids and other parts of containers
bung
cap
compartment
1. 3a
  a cover for a pen
  Synonyms and related words
  Pens and pencils and their parts
  ballpoint
  Biro
  cartridge
4
countable a piece of clothing that covers the upper part of your body
This shop stocks a whole range of tops.
his pyjama top
Synonyms and related words
Types of clothes and shoes
accessory
a change of clothes/socks/underwear etc
array
5
singular Britishthe part of something such as a street that is furthest away from you
They’ve bought a new house at the top of our road.
Synonyms and related words
The outer parts of objects or spaces
apex
back
back end
6
countable a child’s toy that spins around on a point
Synonyms and related words
Toys and other things to play with
action figure
balloon
beanbag
7
countable usually pluralthe leaves on some vegetables, for example onions
Synonyms and related words
Parts of vegetables
cob
eye
flesh
8

the top
informalthe beginning of an activity, especially a performance of something
take it from the top:
Let’s take it from the top of the second act.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of performances
bill
curtain call
encore
1. 8a
  in baseball, the first half of an inning
  Synonyms and related words
  Baseball positions, actions and equipment
  balk
  ballpark
  base
9
up top
used just before giving a high fiveSubmitted by:
Ismail from Russian Federation on 04/02/2018
Open Dictionary - February2018

phrases

at the top of the list

at the top of the tree

at the top of your voice/lungs

(be) the tops

come out on top/come out tops

from top to bottom

something gets on top of you

not have much up top

off the top of your head

on top

on top of

on top of the world

over the top

top

noun

US /tɑp/

Word Forms

singular	top
plural	tops

1
countable usually singularthe highest place, point, part, or surface of something
We could see mountain tops in the distance.
at the top of something:
I left my purse at the top of the stairs.
the very top:
Our cat had climbed to the very top of the tree.
reach the top:
We reached the top of the hill and looked down.
on top (of something):
He sprinkled sugar on top of the cake.
Synonyms and related words
The outer parts of objects or spaces
apex
back
back end
1. 1a
  a flat surface, especially the flat upper surface of a piece of furniture
  You need to wipe down the table tops.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of pieces of furniture
  caster
  castor
  drawer
2

the top
the highest status within a group or organization, or the person in this position
She started as an administrative assistant and worked her way to the top.
at the top of your profession:
He was a man of forty-five, at the top of his profession.
Synonyms and related words
General words for rank and status
paygrade
walk of life
status
3
countable a lid or cover for a container
I lost the top to my shampoo bottle.
Synonyms and related words
Lids and other parts of containers
bung
cap
compartment
1. 3a
  a cover for a pen
  Synonyms and related words
  Pens and pencils and their parts
  ballpoint
  Biro
  cartridge
4
countable a piece of clothing that covers the upper part of your body
This store carries a lot of nice knit tops.
his pajama top
Synonyms and related words
Types of clothes and shoes
accessory
a change of clothes/socks/underwear etc.
array
5
singular Britishthe part of something such as a street that is farthest away from you
They’ve bought a new house at the top of our road.
Synonyms and related words
The outer parts of objects or spaces
apex
back
back end
6
countable a child’s toy that spins around on a point
Synonyms and related words
Toys and other things to play with
action figure
balloon
beanbag
7
countable usually pluralthe leaves on some vegetables, for example onions
Synonyms and related words
Parts of vegetables
cob
eye
flesh
8

the top
informalthe beginning of an activity, especially a performance of something
take it from the top:
Let’s take it from the top of the second act.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of performances
bill
curtain call
encore
1. 8a
  in baseball, the first half of an inning
  Synonyms and related words
  Baseball positions, actions and equipment
  at bat
  at bat
  balk
9
up top
used just before giving a high fiveSubmitted by:
Ismail from Russian Federation on 04/02/2018
Open Dictionary - February2018

phrases

at the top of the list

at the top of your voice/lungs

(be) the tops

come out on top/come out tops

from top to bottom

something gets on top of you

off the top of your head

on top

on top of

on top of the world

push/put someone over the top

top

verb transitive

UK /tɒp/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	top
he/she/it	tops
present participle	topping
past tense	topped
past participle	topped

1
to be better or more impressive than something else
I don’t think I can top your fishing story.
Synonyms and related words
To be the best or better than someone else
surpass
outdo
rise above
1. 1a
  to be in the most important or popular position in a series of things
  top a bill:
  Topping our entertainment bill tonight is someone I know you’ll love.
  top a list/chart:
  The book is now topping bestseller lists all over the world.
  Synonyms and related words
  To be important, or to give something importance
  matter
  figure
  emphasize
2
to be larger than a particular amount
The costs for the project may top £50 million.
Synonyms and related words
To exist in large or larger amounts
abound
go beyond
exceed
3
often passiveto cover something with a layer of something else
top something with something:
pizza topped with cheese
be topped by something:
hills topped by clumps of trees
Synonyms and related words
To cover something
cover
wrap
coat
4
literaryto reach the top of a hill or slope
Synonyms and related words
Mountaineering, rock climbing and caving
abseil
abseiling
ascend

phrases

to top it all (off)

top and tail

top an offer/bid

top yourself

phrasal verbs

top off

top out

top up

top

verb transitive

US /tɑp/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	top
he/she/it	tops
present participle	topping
past tense	topped
past participle	topped

1
to be larger than a particular amount
The costs for the project may top $50 million.
Synonyms and related words
To exist in large or larger amounts
abound
go beyond
exceed
2
often passiveto cover something with a layer of something else
top something with something:
pizza topped with cheese
be topped by something:
hills topped by clumps of trees
Synonyms and related words
To cover something
cover
wrap
coat
3
to be better or more impressive than something else
I don’t think I can top your fishing story.
Synonyms and related words
To be the best or better than someone else
rise above
overtake
rival
1. 3a
  to be in the most important or popular position in a series of things
  top a bill:
  Topping our entertainment bill tonight is someone I know you’ll love.
  top a list/chart:
  The book is now topping bestseller lists all over the world.
  Synonyms and related words
  To be important, or to give something importance
  matter
  figure
  emphasize
4
literaryto reach the top of a hill or slope
Synonyms and related words
Mountaineering, rock climbing and caving
abseil
ascend
ascent

phrases

to top it all (off)

top an offer/bid

phrasal verbs

top off

top out

top up

top ​‌‌‌

top ​‌‌‌

top ​‌‌‌

the top

the top

up top

top ​‌‌‌

the top

the top

up top

top ​‌‌

top ​‌‌

top

top

top

top

top

top