: of the highest level or rank with regard to quality, reputation, or importance
Top-tier wines are the result of artisanal production techniques that demand rigorous attention to detail and, on occasion, financial sacrifice.Daniel Sogg
In general, the top-tier schools measure their success by the salaries that their graduates earn …Peter Baida
… leave fellow Republicans open to attack on what's shaping up as a top-tier issue in the 2008 elections.Mark Hertsgaard
Yes, this Kansas team is loaded with top-tier talent …Joe Posnanski
Kemp's first objective, his handlers said, was to establish himself as a top-tier contender.Lucy Howard>

Examples of top-tier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The successful applicant will oversee and lead the company’s top-tier franchises and shape the future of Netflix’s premium game portfolio. Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Land a top-tier quarterback in 2026 and the Browns could suddenly have a formidable nucleus. Zak Keefer, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025 The pressure rate Campbell allowed against top-tier competition registered higher than other elite tackle prospects in past classes, and even Missouri right tackle Armand Membou, who went seventh to the Jets. Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2025 As Maryland grapples with financial challenges, political leaders are bracing for rating agencies to potentially lower the state's top-tier bond rating. Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for top-tier

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of top-tier was in 1879

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Cite this Entry

“Top-tier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-tier. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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