top-tier

/ˌtɒpˈtɪər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌtɑːpˈtɪr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtäp-ˈtir/ (ame, mw)

top-tier — 形容詞

1. belonging to the highest level of quality, skill, or importance in a particular

1.形容詞B2
釋義

頂尖

品質、能力或重要性屬於最高等級的

belonging to the highest level of quality, skill, or importance in a particular area — used about people, organisations, or products that are clearly better than most others

例句

Tunde earned a place at a top-tier university in London.

Tunde 在倫敦一所頂尖大學取得了入學資格。

top-tier + institution (university)

The hospital recruited a top-tier surgeon from a well-known medical school.

那家醫院從一所知名醫學院招募了一位頂尖外科醫師。

同義詞
  • top-notch

    more informal and conversational; 'top-notch service' sounds friendlier than 'top-tier service'

  • first-rate

    slightly old-fashioned; more common in British English for describing experiences or service

  • world-class

    emphasises international standing; a 'world-class athlete' competes globally, while a 'top-tier athlete' may simply be the best domestically

  • elite

    implies exclusivity and restricted access; 'elite university' suggests prestige and selectivity beyond mere quality

反義詞
  • second-rate

    of clearly lower quality; dismissive in tone

  • low-tier

    the direct opposite; belonging to the lowest quality or rank category

  • mediocre

    average or ordinary, not necessarily bad but nowhere near top-tier

文法句型

top-tier + noun

用法筆記

Typically used before a noun (attributive position): 'a top-tier university'. Predicative use ('the university is top-tier') is becoming more common in informal American English but remains less frequent in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌She works for a top tier company.
✅She works for a top-tier company.
💡the hyphen is required when the compound adjective comes before a noun.
❌Mount Everest is a top-tier mountain.
✅Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain.
💡'top-tier' refers to quality or rank, not physical height or size.