ENGLISH
REFERENCE

topper

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈtɑpɝ// UK //tˈɒpɐ// top·per Archaic Informal Slang

n. someone who gets the highest marks in a class or an exam. You use this when talking about the best student in a group.

n. the person who achieves the highest rank or score in a specific group, particularly in an academic context. Common in Indian and British English varieties.


SIMPLE

She was the class topper in mathematics this year.

CONTEXTUAL

After months of rigorous study, he was announced as the state topper in the competitive entrance exams.

COMPLEX

While being the school topper brings significant prestige, it also places immense pressure on the student to maintain that academic trajectory throughout university.

Synonyms
Usage

Primarily used in South Asian and British English; in American English, 'top of the class' or 'valedictorian' is more common.

© 2026 English Reference