top notch
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for top notch, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Of the highest quality or standard.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
first-rate
first-class
Antonyms
How to use top notch
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
top-notch service
absolutely top notch
top-notch quality
Informal but perfectly acceptable in most writing, including business communication. Usually hyphenated before a noun and open after a verb.
Frequently asked questions
Is top notch hyphenated?
Hyphenate it when it sits directly before a noun — a top-notch performance. Leave it open after a linking verb — the performance was top notch. Some style guides hyphenate it in both positions, and that is not wrong.
What is the difference between top notch and top tier?
Top notch is a judgement about quality: it is very good. Top tier places something in the highest band of a ranking, so it implies a comparison with competitors. A restaurant can be top notch without being top tier in its city.
