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Glite Dictionary
topnotch

topnotch

1 5.4
Of the best quality
  • adjective
  • /ˈtɑpˌnɑtʃ/
  • Informal
translation icon : de primera calidad
  • He received a topnotch education that prepared him well for his career.

Examples

  • Your writing samples are topnotch and I'm genuinely interested in seeing what kind of story you can come up with for us.

    Never Die Alone (2004)

  • You scored extraordinarily high on your entrance exams, but your college grades... Were just mediocre, and we're not talking about... A topnotch college, either.

    Gross Anatomy (1989)

  • Claymore is a topnotch place.

    Girl, Interrupted (1999)

  • She was really topnotch.

    True Crime (1999)

  • You're looking topnotch.

    The Whole Ten Yards (2004)

  • The restaurant is known for its topnotch service and delicious food.

  • The athlete's performance was topnotch, earning him several awards.

Synonyms

super
vstopnotch
  • Informal
∞ 3.5

Very, showing strong feeling or excellent quality

is a standard positive adjective used across formal and informal speech
first-rate
vstopnotch
49 3.8

Very high quality or done very well

is more informal and often used in everyday speech
top notch
vstopnotch
  • Informal
38 3.6

Of the highest quality and better than most similar things

is the same notion often written with a hyphen or as one word
A-one
vstopnotch
  • Archaic
15 7.9

Of very high quality, like top service or care

is a current, commonly used word for the same high standard
top-notch
vstopnotch
14 4.4

Very high quality and among the best

is the same idea but tends to feel more conversational
top-quality
vstopnotch
9 3.8

Very high quality and lasts a long time

is broader and used in general praise rather than product labels
top-flight
vstopnotch
9 6.2

Of very high quality and among the best in its field

is the same compliment but used across wider situations
top of the line
vstopnotch
4 3.9

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

covers high quality more generally, not only premium models
capital
vstopnotch
  • Archaic
3 8.1

Very good or excellent

is modern and neutral, used more commonly today
top-grade
vstopnotch
3 3.7

Of the highest quality, better than others like it

is a general praise term not limited to competitive ranking
tiptop
vstopnotch
1 5.2

In very good or perfect condition

is similar praise but less focused on perfect condition
top-hole
vstopnotch
  • UK
1 9.9

Very good and of the highest quality

is more neutral and widely used without playful flavour
topping
vstopnotch
  • Archaic
6.9

Very good and of high quality

is a modern, more neutral way to praise high quality
tops
vstopnotch
  • Informal
7.8

Very good and the best in quality

is more neutral and fits both formal and informal contexts
ace
vstopnotch
  • UK
5.0

Very good and of the highest quality

is a fuller descriptive term used more widely for high quality
crack
vstopnotch
6.4

Very skilled at a particular activity

focuses on general high quality rather than skilled performance

Antonyms

inferior
63 3.7

Not as good in quality as something else

subpar
15 4.5

Not as good as people expect

How Good

topnotch
  • Informal
1 5.4
good
∞ 1.0
fair
274 1.0
poor
838 1.0

Surface Forms

topnotch positive

Morphology

topnotch = top + notch (transparent) = top + notch

The meaning 'highest quality' follows straightforwardly from 'top' (highest) + 'notch' (level/degree), a direct and productive compound.

Etymology

Topnotch comes from joining top ('highest') and notch ('a cut or mark' used to show levels). So the 'top notch' is the highest mark, which helps you remember why it means 'excellent' or 'the best'.