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tops

tops

7.8
Very good and the best in quality
  • adjective
  • /tɑps/
  • Informal
translation icon : excelente
  • So there's like content on there that is just like top tier good stuff.

Actually, for me, the earrings are just top, top tier.

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Examples

  • Her tutorials and her videos are absolutely top, top quality.

  • Actually, for me, the earrings are just top, top tier.

  • Now that would have been top retail at the time.

  • I love Sigma's formulation right now is top top top notch.

  • Her tutorials and her videos are absolutely top quality.

  • The restaurant received a top rating for its delicious food.

  • He always delivers top performances during the competition.

Synonyms

great
vstops
1.0

Very good or excellent in quality

is more informal and implies the very highest rather than just very good
excellent
vstops
1.0

Very good and better than most similar things

is informal whereas this is a more neutral standard term
super
vstops
  • Informal
3.5

Very, showing strong feeling or excellent quality

is informal but more general than slangy praise
supreme
vstops
737 3.9

Highest in rank, quality, or importance

is informal while this term sounds grander and more formal
outstanding
vstops
257 3.4

Much better than most others in skill or quality

is informal and focuses more on pure quality than visibility
superb
vstops
111 3.5

Of very high quality and extremely good

is informal while this is more formal and emphatic
mean
vstops
  • Slang
77 7.5

Very good and impressive at a skill

is informal but less slangy in normal speech
high-quality
vstops
68 2.7

Very good and done with care

is informal and expresses general praise rather than specification
swell
vstops
  • Archaic
66 7.3

Very good and enjoyable

is informal and more current, whereas this word is more dated
premier
vstops
61 4.5

Most important or best in a group of similar things

is informal while this term implies official status or rank
first-rate
vstops
49 3.8

Very high quality or done very well

is informal while this sounds slightly more formal as praise
first-class
vstops
49 3.4

Of the highest quality and very good

is informal whereas this term feels more formal and categorical
top notch
vstops
  • Informal
38 3.6

Of the highest quality and better than most similar things

is informal whereas this is a classificatory praise term
bang-up
vstops
  • Informal
16 7.8

Very good and of high quality

is informal too but less specifically colloquial in tone
A-one
vstops
  • Archaic
15 7.9

Of very high quality, like top service or care

is informal and more current than that short phrase
top-notch
vstops
14 4.4

Very high quality and among the best

is informal while this is a common neutral compliment
top-quality
vstops
9 3.8

Very high quality and lasts a long time

is informal and serves as a casual overall compliment
top-flight
vstops
9 6.2

Of very high quality and among the best in its field

is informal and used more broadly than category-specific praise
superlative
vstops
8 4.6

Of the highest quality

is informal while this is a more formal absolute praise
select
vstops
  • Formal
8 3.7

Very good quality and better than most others

is informal and does not imply selection or exclusivity
tip-top
vstops
  • Informal
7 6.2

In the very best condition and working very well

is informal but used more broadly to praise quality
head and shoulders above
vstops
  • Informal
6 4.3

Being much better than others at something

describes highest quality generally rather than direct comparison
super-duper
vstops
  • Informal
4 7.9

Very good and impressive

is informal too but more neutral in tone
4 3.9

A product that has very high quality and is often the most expensive option

is informal while this phrase emphasizes model or market rank
a cut above
vstops
4 4.3

Clearly better than others in quality or style

is informal and points to absolute highest quality rather than comparison
top-grade
vstops
3 3.7

Of the highest quality, better than others like it

is informal while this term stresses grading or production
jim-dandy
vstops
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Very good in quality and performance

is informal and current while this term sounds dated or playful
topnotch
vstops
  • Informal
1 5.4

Of the best quality

is informal and less formal in sales or reviews contexts
tiptop
vstops
1 5.2

In very good or perfect condition

is informal and often used to praise how well something is
top-hole
vstops
  • UK
1 9.9

Very good and of the highest quality

is informal while this phrase sounds slightly old-fashioned or formal
a notch above
vstops
1 4.3

Slightly better than similar people or things in quality

is informal and used for the highest quality rather than slight advantage

Only top quality is acceptable

is an informal praise term rather than a strict requirement
ace
vstops
  • UK
5.0

Very good and of the highest quality

is informal but less like a punchy single-word compliment
crack
vstops
6.4

Very skilled at a particular activity

is informal and broader, not limited to skill contexts
topping
vstops
  • Archaic
6.9

Very good and of high quality

is informal while this sounds more emphatic or old-fashioned
banner
vstops
5.6

A very successful time, for example a year

is informal while this term suggests a notable exceptional occurrence
slap-up
vstops
  • UK
8.9

Very good and large, often used for a meal or party

is informal but this term is regionally marked and often for meals

Antonyms

63 3.7

Not as good in quality as something else

15 4.5

Not as good as people expect

How Good

tops
  • Informal
7.8
excellent
1.0
great
1.0
good
1.0
fair
274 1.0
poor
838 1.0

Surface Forms

tops positive
topper comparative
topmost superlative

Morphology

tops = top (transparent) = top + s

The adjective 'tops' is a straightforward informal development from 'top' with an -s suffix indicating a superlative/collective sense; a learner who knows 'top' can readily infer 'tops' meaning 'excellent'.

Etymology

Tops comes from the simple word top, which means 'the highest part' or 'the highest place'. So being on the top means being 'the best', and tops is an informal way to say 'excellent'.