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topper

topper

7 6.7
A person who is best in a group or class
  • noun
  • /ˈtɑːpər/
  • Indian
translation icon : mejor alumno (academia)
  • After years of hard work and dedication, she finally became the academic topper in her class.
  • chart topper
  • country chart topper
  • current chart topper

Examples

  • Gentlemen, Ms. Huddleston, CIA, and Lieutenant Topper Harley.

  • Since nursery, I had been a topper, i.e., always first all-rounder.

    Blog text (2)
  • And when you add up the sum of its collective parts, this show was the topper.

    Blog text (34)
  • You're the best of the best, topper.

  • Students with low grades had to encounter more challenges than those who were the toppers in their respective years of study.

    Academic text (2014)
  • Being recognized as the topper of the annual science fair filled him with pride.

  • In the world of competitive sports, she is a topper, always setting records and winning championships.

Synonyms

champion
vstopper
600 2.4

A person who wins first place in a competition

focuses on being most outstanding generally rather than only a competition winner
king
vstopper
508 1.0

The most important person or thing in a field

focuses on excelling by performance rather than holding power or authority
top dog
vstopper
  • Informal
21 4.6

A person with the most power in a group

means the person who excels most by merit rather than by formal authority
star player
vstopper
13 2.0

A team member who is the best and most important

applies to any top person in any field not only players
record-holder
vstopper
12 3.2

A person or organization that officially has the best result in an event

refers to being the highest ranked person without needing official records
king of the hill
vstopper
  • Informal
2 4.4

A person or group who is top and most powerful after a competition

applies to someone who excels overall not only temporarily after a win
top cat
vstopper
  • Informal
1 7.5

A person who is in charge of a group and makes the main decisions

describes excelling above others by achievement rather than by social standing
top banana
vstopper
  • Archaic
1 7.7

The most important person in a group or organization

refers to highest excellence or ranking rather than influence or importance
world-beater
vstopper
  • Informal
1 6.9

A person or thing much better than others

refers to ranking at the top rather than emphasizing margin of success
top-notcher
vstopper
  • Philippine
1 8.2

A person who is among the best in a field

means the single most outstanding person rather than just among top performers
best
vstopper
1.0

A person who is better than all others in a group

is the same meaning but uses a different word form
bestest
vstopper
  • Informal
8.9

A person or thing someone says is the very best in a playful way

is the neutral standard term rather than a playful informal form

Compounds

A small piece of chocolate placed on top of a cake or dessert to decorate it

A classic formal hat like a top hat worn at weddings and ceremonies

A bright, stylish hat or accessory worn to make an outfit stand out

How Outstanding

topper
  • Indian
7 6.7
expert
3.2
skilled
172 3.5
average
1.0
novice
46 3.4

Surface Forms

topper singular
toppers plural

Morphology

topper = top (transparent) = top + er

This is a straightforward agent noun from the verb 'top', meaning a person who comes first or outranks others.

Etymology

Topper comes from the simple parts top and -er, meaning 'on top' or 'one who tops'. So when someone is called the topper, it means they are at the top or the best in a group.