adjective
top notch
top NOTCH
Top notch (adjective) means of the highest quality or standard. Example: “The service at that hotel is absolutely top notch.”
adjective
1
Of the highest quality or standard.
"The service at that hotel is absolutely top notch."
"She put together a top-notch team in under a month."
"The award may be given to anybody who consistently writes top notch content."
How to use top notch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs good as it gets.
When to use it
Informal but perfectly acceptable in most writing, including business communication. Usually hyphenated before a noun and open after a verb.
Memory tip
Top notch describes quality, not price or luxury. A cheap café can serve top-notch coffee.
Easily confused with
top-tier
top of the range
high-end
Common pairings
top-notch service
absolutely top notch
top-notch quality
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like top notch.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The service at that hotel is absolutely _____.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
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.
What is the meaning of top notch?
"top notch" (adjective) means of the highest quality or standard.
What is another word for top notch?
Other words for "top notch" include excellent, first-rate, outstanding, superb, first-class.
