noun
top
top
noun
1
The highest point or part of something.
"They finally reached the top of the mountain at noon."
"Put the box on top of the shelf."
2
A piece of clothing worn on the upper body.
"She bought a new top to go with her jeans."
verb
1
To be greater than, or to go beyond, something else.
"His latest album topped the charts within a week."
"Nothing tops a home-cooked meal after a long day."
2
To add something as a final layer over the top of something else.
"Top the cake with fresh strawberries before serving."
adj
1
Best, highest, or most important.
"She's one of the top students in her year."
How to Use Top
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe highest part of anything, or (as a verb) to beat or exceed something, or add a final layer on top.
Common pairings
top of the list
top it off
on top of things
top-notch
Word Forms
topped past tense, Tops plural, tops singular
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They finally reached the _____ of the mountain at noon.
Etymology
From Old English topp, meaning the highest part or summit of something — the same root that gives us words like "topple".