# tops

/ˈtɑps/ (US) · /tˈɒps/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tops
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. clothing

noun · CEFR A2

pieces of clothing that you wear on the upper part of your body, like shirts or sweaters.

For teachers: plural noun referring to garments worn on the upper body.

- She packed three different tops to wear with her jeans on the trip.
- The retailer reported a significant increase in sales for casual tops as more employees transitioned to permanent remote work arrangements.

### 2. highest parts

noun · CEFR A2

the highest points or surfaces of several things.

For teachers: the uppermost parts, surfaces, or summits of multiple objects.

- The mountain tops were covered in thick white snow all winter.
- The chef carefully removed the tops of the peppers before stuffing them with a mixture of seasoned rice and herbs.

### 3. at the most

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to say that a number or amount is the absolute maximum.

For teachers: at the very most; used postpositively to indicate a maximum limit or duration.

- The walk to the station will take ten minutes tops.
- The repair should cost fifty pounds tops, provided there is no underlying damage to the internal circuitry.

### 4. excellent

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

very good or excellent.

For teachers: denoting high quality or excellence; often used in British English contexts.

- We had a tops meal at that new Italian restaurant last night.
- He is a tops bloke who would go out of his way to help anyone in the village.

## Examples

- I can pay fifty dollars, tops.
- The repair should take about three days, tops, provided the parts are in stock.
- While the auctioneer hoped for a record-breaking bid, most collectors estimated the painting would fetch ten thousand dollars, tops, given its current condition.

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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.