# atop

/əˈtɑp/ (US) · /ɐtˈɒp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/atop
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. on top of

preposition · CEFR B2 · Literary

on the very top of something.

For teachers: positioned on the highest point or surface of an object. Functions as a preposition taking a noun phrase object.

- A small gold bird sat atop the wedding cake.
- The ancient fortress sat atop a jagged limestone cliff, overlooking the valley where the two rivers met.

### 2. at the top

adverb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Archaic

at or to the top of something.

For teachers: at, on, or to the highest part. Used as an adverbial modifier without a following noun phrase.

- The mountain was steep, but the view from atop was beautiful.
- The hikers climbed for hours until they finally stood atop, gazing at the clouds drifting below the summit.

## Examples

- A small gold star sits atop the Christmas tree.
- The ancient castle was built atop a steep hill, making it nearly impossible for enemies to attack.
- The explorer stood atop the jagged peak, gazing down at the clouds that obscured the valley floor thousands of feet below.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.