Definition

1. Noun:

   • The highest point or part of something: The "top" is the uppermost surface, point, or level of an object or area.
   • A covering or lid: A "top" can be a detachable cover for a container.
   • A garment for the upper body: A "top" is an item of clothing worn on the upper part of the body.
   • The highest rank or position: The "top" can refer to the highest level of achievement, authority, or degree.

2. Verb:

   • To be at the highest point or rank: To "top" means to be the highest, best, or first.
   • To exceed or surpass: To "top" means to be better than or go beyond a standard or another thing.
   • To remove the upper part: To "top" means to cut off the highest part of something, like a plant.
   • To provide with a top: To "top" means to finish something by adding a top part or covering.
   • To hit the upper part of a ball: In sports, to "top" a ball is to strike its upper half, imparting forward spin.

3. Adjective:

   • Highest in position, rank, or degree: "Top" describes something situated at the highest point or being the best.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She placed the book on the top of the shelf.
  • Please screw the top back onto the jar.
  • She wore a red top with blue jeans.
  • He is at the top of his profession.

• Verb:

  • She topped her class in mathematics.
  • His latest novel tops all his previous work.
  • The gardener topped the hedges to keep them neat.
  • The tower was topped with a golden spire.
  • The golfer topped the ball, and it rolled only a short distance.

• Adjective:

  • He has a corner office on the top floor.
  • She is one of the country's top scientists.

Advanced Usage

• "To come out on top": to be victorious or successful after a struggle.

  • After a difficult negotiation, our company came out on top.

• "To top it all off" or "on top of that": used to introduce a final, often surprising or negative, point.

  • It was raining, the bus was late, and to top it all off, I forgot my umbrella.

• "At the top of one's lungs/voice": as loudly as one can.

  • He shouted for help at the top of his lungs.

Variants and Related Words

• Topping (n): A layer of food added on top of another, e.g., .
• Topmost (adj): Highest of all; at the very top.
• Top-level (adj): Of the highest importance or rank.

Synonyms

• Noun (peak): Summit, pinnacle, apex, crest.
• Verb (exceed): Surpass, outdo, beat, excel.
• Adjective (highest): Uppermost, foremost, leading, prime.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Top off: To finish or complete something, often by adding a final touch.

  • They topped off the meal with a delicious dessert.

• Top up: To refill something to its full capacity.

  • Can you top up my glass with water, please?

Related Idioms

• Over the top (OTT): Excessive or exaggerated.

  • His reaction to the minor mistake was completely over the top.

• Top dog: The person in the highest position of authority or control.

  • After the merger, she became top dog in the new company.

• From top to bottom: Completely; throughout.

  • We cleaned the house from top to bottom.

Verb

1. finish up or conclude
   • They topped off their dinner with a cognac
   • top the evening with champagne
2. be the culminating event
   • The speech crowned the meeting
3. cut the top off
   • top trees and bushes
4. strike (the top part of a ball in golf, baseball, or pool) giving it a forward spin
5. reach or ascend the top of
   • The hikers topped the mountain just before noon
6. provide with a top or finish the top (of a structure)
   • the towers were topped with conical roofs
7. be ahead of others; be the first
   • she topped her class every year
8. be at the top of or constitute the top or highest point
   • A star tops the Christmas Tree
9. pass by, over, or under without making contact
   • the balloon cleared the tree tops
10. be superior or better than some standard
    • She exceeded our expectations
    • She topped her performance of last year

Noun

1. a canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance
   • he was afraid of a fire in the circus tent
   • they had the big top up in less than an hour
2. a garment (especially for women) that extends from the shoulders to the waist or hips
   • he stared as she buttoned her top
3. covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container)
   • he removed the top of the carton
   • he couldn't get the top off of the bottle
   • put the cover back on the kettle
4. a conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin
   • he got a bright red top and string for his birthday
5. platform surrounding the head of a lower mast
6. the greatest possible intensity
   • he screamed at the top of his lungs
7. the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development
   • his landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
   • the artist's gifts are at their acme
   • at the height of her career
   • the peak of perfection
   • summer was at its peak
   • ...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
   • the summit of his ambition
   • so many highest superlatives achieved by man
   • at the top of his profession
8. the first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat
   • a relief pitcher took over in the top of the fifth
9. the top or extreme point of something (usually a mountain or hill)
   • the view from the peak was magnificent
   • they clambered to the tip of Monadnock
   • the region is a few molecules wide at the summit
10. the highest or uppermost side of anything
    • put your books on top of the desk
    • only the top side of the box was painted
11. the upper part of anything
    • the mower cuts off the tops of the grass
    • the title should be written at the top of the first page

Adjective

1. situated at the top or highest position
   • the top shelf