top-shelf
adjective
1
: of the best quality
top-shelf products
Reading does have one top-shelf tourist attraction, a gorgeous pagoda that sits atop a mountain.—
Joe Queenan
Joe Queenan2
[from the placement of sexually explicit magazines for sale on high shelves out of the reach of children] British
: containing pornographic material
top-shelf magazines
This year, retailers are going to come under increased pressure to clean up their acts. Of course, they're not obliged to sell top-shelf mags.—The Grocer
The GrocerSynonyms of top-shelf
Examples of top-shelf in a Sentence
hoping to impress the new neighbors, she brought a top-shelf wine as a housewarming gift
Recent Examples on the Web
As streaming technology improves and festivals continue drawing top-shelf acts, livestreams of music festivals have become more common.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 May 2026
This year’s Marché is loaded with horror and sci-fi packages pairing top-shelf filmmakers with our biggest stars, proving that genre has become world cinema’s lingua franca.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026
Food and beverages are all-inclusive, with an extensive drink list that covers local Bhutanese beers and whisky (only top-shelf spirits cost extra).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
In contrast to typical airline food drowning in salt and sauces, the culinary offerings aboard Aero are a delight, with meals created in partnership with Erewhon, Spago, Parm, Sadelle’s and Flora Farms along with an open bar of top-shelf spirits and Veuve Clicquot champagne.
—Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for top-shelf
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Dade Hayes, Deadline, 18 May 2026
This year’s Marché is loaded with horror and sci-fi packages pairing top-shelf filmmakers with our biggest stars, proving that genre has become world cinema’s lingua franca.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2026
Food and beverages are all-inclusive, with an extensive drink list that covers local Bhutanese beers and whisky (only top-shelf spirits cost extra).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
In contrast to typical airline food drowning in salt and sauces, the culinary offerings aboard Aero are a delight, with meals created in partnership with Erewhon, Spago, Parm, Sadelle’s and Flora Farms along with an open bar of top-shelf spirits and Veuve Clicquot champagne.
—Beth Landman, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for top-shelf
Cite this Entry
“Top-shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-shelf. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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