Definitions

top tier

[top-teer] / ˈtɒpˈtɪər /

Part of Speech:

All (3) Adjective (2) Noun (1)

Jump To:

best, first-rate adj.
best of group n.
best, first-rate adj.

ADJECTIVE

best, first-rate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

a-listed blue-ribbon first string first-class first-rate five-star outstanding top-flight top-grade top-level top-notch top-of-the-line top-quality top-ranking world-beating world-class

STRONG

choicest elite finest first water highest quality number 1 number one of the first water premier premium select superior top of the list top-drawer top-shelf

WEAK

best boss crack

Antonyms

STRONGEST

b-listed bottom-drawer bottom-rung bottom-shelf low-quality low-ranking lowest level lowest-ranked lowest-rated number two second string second-class second-rate subpar substandard third-rate

STRONG

bottom of the barrel inadequate inferior lackluster mediocre one-star poor quality run-of-the-mill so-so underwhelming unimpressive worthless

WEAK

crappy crummy poor worst

NOUN

best of group

Synonyms

STRONGEST

a-list best in class first string highest level highest rank top echelon top level top rank

STRONG

apex cream of the crop elite elites top drawer top of the list top shelf

WEAK

best best of the best first choice

Antonyms

STRONGEST

b-list bottom rank bottom shelf lowest echelon lowest level lowest rank second string

STRONG

bottom of the barrel

WEAK

garbage worst

top-tier

ADJECTIVE

best, first-rate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

a-listed blue-ribbon first string first-class first-rate five-star outstanding top-flight top-grade top-level top-notch top-of-the-line top-quality top-ranking world-beating world-class

STRONG

choicest elite finest first water highest quality number 1 number one of the first water premier premium select superior top of the list top-drawer top-shelf

WEAK

best boss crack

Antonyms

STRONGEST

b-listed bottom-drawer bottom-rung bottom-shelf low-quality low-ranking lowest level lowest-ranked lowest-rated number two second string second-class second-rate subpar substandard third-rate

STRONG

bottom of the barrel inadequate inferior lackluster mediocre one-star poor quality run-of-the-mill so-so underwhelming unimpressive worthless

WEAK

crappy crummy poor worst

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.

See Examples For:

top tier top-tier

The scope, unprecedented in the top tier of English soccer, also reshapes how the past 15 years of the Premier League will be remembered.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Captain Davies felt Wales were being taught some harsh lessons in what is their second stint in the top tier of the Nations League.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

After planning for an attendance of 60,000, Wembley was about half full at 46,523, with some ticketholders moved to the bottom tier to keep the top tier empty.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

The new tickets were in the fifth row of the stadium’s top tier.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

In this view, Americans care less about emulating the top tier than about simply having a fair share of the bounty and a chance to carve out a place for themselves in society.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Then the national security state will likely engulf top-tier AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

Each team is allowed one player whose salary is exempt from the calculations; however, players who move between top-tier teams can only qualify for such marquee status after two years with their new side.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

“If the Fed raises rates, I would expect some of the high, top-tier rates will ratchet up,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

The group will also include other experts from Accenture who will help scale FDE solutions and a small group of Google Cloud FDEs for limited engagements with top-tier customers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

I wanted the best of both worlds—the thrill and the drama of high school with all my friends and a top-tier gymnastics career.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles