Best vs. Top: What's the Difference?
Best and Top Definitions
Best
Surpassing all others in excellence, achievement, or quality; most excellent
The best performer.
The best grade of ore.
Top
The uppermost part, point, surface, or end
Wrote on the top of the box.
Best
Most satisfactory, suitable, or useful; most desirable
The best solution.
The best time for planting.
Top
The part farthest from a given reference point
Took a jump shot from the top of the key.
Best
Greatest; most
He spoke for the best part of an hour.
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Top
The crown of the head
From top to toe.
Best
Most highly skilled
The best doctor in town.
Top
The part of a plant, such as a rutabaga, that is above the ground.
Best
In a most excellent way; most creditably or advantageously.
Top
Something, such as a lid or cap, that covers or forms an uppermost part.
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Best
To the greatest degree or extent; most
"He was certainly the best hated man in the ship" (W. Somerset Maugham).
Top
A garment worn on the upper half of the body.
Best
One that surpasses all others.
Top
(Nautical) A platform enclosing the head of the lower section of a mast of a square-rigged vessel, to which the topmast shrouds are attached.
Best
The best part, moment, or value
The best is still to come. Let's get the best out of life.
Top
The highest degree, pitch, or point; the peak, acme, or zenith
"It had come at a time when he was not feeling at the top of his form" (Anthony Powell).
Best
The optimum condition or quality
Look your best. She was at her best in the freestyle competition.
Top
The highest position or rank
At the top of his profession.
Best
One's nicest or most formal clothing.
Top
A person in this position.
Best
The supreme effort one can make
Doing our best.
Top
(Games) The highest card or cards in a suit or hand.
Best
One's warmest wishes or regards
Give them my best.
Top
The best part.
Best
To get the better of; beat
"I'm a rough customer, I expect, but I know when I'm bested" (Nathanael West).
Top
The earliest part or beginning
She played the piece again, from the top.
Best
Most; largest.
Unpacking took the best part of a week.
Top
(Baseball) The first half of an inning.
Best
Most superior; most favorable.
In my opinion, mushrooms are the best pizza toppings.
Top
A stroke that lands above the center of a ball, as in golf or tennis, giving it a forward spin.
Best
To the most advantage; with the most success, cause, profit, benefit, or propriety.
Top
A forward spin on a ball resulting from such a stroke.
Best
(uncountable) The supreme effort one can make, or has made.
I did my best.
My personal best in that race is eighteen minutes, four seconds.
Top
(Slang) One who penetrates the other person or is the dominant partner in a sexual encounter or relationship.
Best
(uncountable) One's best behavior.
I was somewhat distant lately, and my lady promised me head every Tuesday of the week when I'm nice to her, so I better be on my best.
Top
A toy having one end tapered to a point, allowing it to be spun, as by suddenly pulling a string wound around it.
Best
(countable) The person (or persons; or thing or things) that is (are) most excellent.
Even the best of us makes mistakes.
We're the best of friends.
Top
Situated at the top
The top shelf.
Best
To surpass in skill or achievement.
Top
Of the highest degree, quality, rank, or amount
In top form.
The top ten bestsellers.
Best
(transitive) To beat in a contest.
Top
In a position of preeminence
The top historian in her department.
Best
Had best.
It's getting late. You best get on home.
Top
To form, furnish with, or serve as a top
Topped the ice cream with jimmies.
Best
Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind, desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent; as, the best man; the best road; the best cloth; the best abilities.
When he is best, he is a little worse than a man.
Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight.
Top
To reach or go over the top of
The car topped the hill.
Best
Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best scholar; the best view of a subject.
Top
To exceed or surpass
The car's speed topped 80 miles an hour. Her performance really topped his.
Best
Most; largest; as, the best part of a week.
Top
To be at the head of
She topped her class.
Best
Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing, or being, or action; as, to do one's best; to the best of our ability.
Top
To remove the top or uppermost part from; crop
Topped the fruit trees.
Best
In the highest degree; beyond all others.
He prayeth best, who loveth bestAll things both great and small.
Top
To strike the upper part of (a ball), giving it forward spin.
Best
To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit, benefit, or propriety.
Had we best retire? I see a storm.
Had I not best go to her?
Top
To make (a stroke) in this way.
Best
Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is expedient is best known to himself.
Top
To make a finish, an end, or a conclusion.
Best
To get the better of.
Top
The highest or uppermost part of something.
His kite got caught at the top of the tree.
Best
The supreme effort one can make;
They did their best
Top
(irrespective of present orientation) the part of something that is usually the top.
We flipped the machine onto its top.
Best
The person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others;
He could beat the best of them
Top
The uppermost part of a page, picture, viewing screen, etc.
Further weather information can be found at the top of your television screen.
Headings appear at the tops of pages.
Best
Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)
Top
A lid, cap or cover of a container.
Put a top on the toothpaste tube or it will go bad.
Best
Get the better of;
The goal was to best the competition
Top
A garment worn to cover the torso.
I bought this top as it matches my jeans.
I like this pyjama top.
Best
(superlative of `good') having the most positive qualities;
The best film of the year
The best solution
The best time for planting
Wore his best suit
Top
A framework at the top of a ship's mast to which rigging is attached.
Best
(comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable;
It would be better to speak to him
The White House thought it best not to respond
Top
(baseball) The first half of an inning, during which the home team fields and the visiting team bats.
Best
In a most excellent way or manner;
He played best after a couple of martinis
Top
(archaic) The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head.
Best
It would be sensible;
You'd best stay at home
Top
The near end of somewhere
The patio is at the top of my garden.
The shop is at the top of my street.
Best
From a position of superiority or authority;
Father knows best
I know better.
Top
A child’s spinning toy; a spinning top.
The boy was amazed at how long the top would spin.
Top
(heading) Someone who is eminent.
Top
(archaic) The chief person; the most prominent one.
Top
The highest rank; the most honourable position; the utmost attainable place.
To be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school
Top
(BDSM) A dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay.
Top
(gay slang) A man penetrating or with a preference for penetrating during homosexual intercourse.
I prefer being a top, and my boyfriend prefers being a bottom.
Top
Oral stimulation of the male member, a blowjob.
Top
(particle physics) A top quark.
Top
The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.
Top
(ropemaking) A plug, or conical block of wood, with longitudinal grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
Top
(sound) Highest pitch or loudest volume.
She sang at the top of her voice.
Top
(wool manufacture) A bundle or ball of slivers of combed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.
Top
(obsolete, except in one sense of phrase on top of) Eve; verge; point.
Top
The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface.
Top
Topboots.
Top
A stroke on the top of the ball.
Top
A forward spin given to the ball by hitting it on or near the top; topspin
Top
(A table at which there is, or which has enough seats for) a group of a specified number of people eating at a restaurant.
Top
To cover on the top or with a top.
I like my ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.
Top
To excel, to surpass, to beat, to exceed.
Titanic was the most successful film ever until it was topped by another Cameron film, Avatar.
Top
To be in the lead, to be at number one position (of).
Celine Dion topped the UK music charts twice in the 1990s.
Top
To cut or remove the top (as of a tree)
I don't want to be bald, so just top my hair.
Top and tail the carrots.
Top
To commit suicide.
Depression causes many people to top themselves.
Top
To murder.
Top
(BDSM) To be the dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay.
I used to be a slave, but I ended up topping.
Giving advice to the dominant partner on how to run the BDSM session is called "topping from the bottom".
Top
To anally penetrate in gay sex.
Top
(archaic) To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower.
Topping passions
Top
(archaic) To excel; to rise above others.
Top
(nautical) To raise one end of (a yard, etc.), making it higher than the other.
Top
(dyeing) To cover with another dye.
To top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening
Top
To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).
Top
To arrange (fruit, etc.) with the best on top.
Top
(of a horse) To strike the top of (an obstacle) with the hind feet while jumping, so as to gain new impetus.
Top
To improve (domestic animals, especially sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior breeds.
Top
To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel ingot) to remove unsound metal.
Top
(golf) To strike (the ball) above the centre; also, to make (a stroke, etc.) by hitting the ball in this way.
Top
Situated on the top of something.
Top
(informal) Best; of the highest quality or rank.
She's in the top dance school.
Top
(informal) Very good, of high quality, power, or rank.
He's a top lawyer.
That is a top car.
Top
Rated first.
She came top in her French exam.
Top
A child's toy, commonly in the form of a conoid or pear, made to spin on its point, usually by drawing off a string wound round its surface or stem, the motion being sometimes continued by means of a whip.
Top
A plug, or conical block of wood, with longitudital grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
Top
The highest part of anything; the upper end, edge, or extremity; the upper side or surface; summit; apex; vertex; cover; lid; as, the top of a spire; the top of a house; the top of a mountain; the top of the ground.
The star that bids the shepherd fold,Now the top of heaven doth hold.
Top
The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.
The top of my ambition is to contribute to that work.
Top
The highest rank; the most honorable position; the utmost attainable place; as, to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school.
And wears upon his baby brow the roundAnd top of sovereignty.
Top
The chief person; the most prominent one.
Other . . . aspired to be the top of zealots.
Top
The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head.
All the stored vengeance of Heaven fallOn her ungrateful top !
Top
The head, or upper part, of a plant.
The buds . . . are called heads, or tops, as cabbageheads.
Top
A platform surrounding the head of the lower mast and projecting on all sudes. It serves to spead the topmast rigging, thus strengheningthe mast, and also furnishes a convenient standing place for the men aloft.
Top
A bundle or ball of slivers of comkbed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.
Top
Eve; verge; point.
Top
The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface.
Top
Top-boots.
Top
A stroke on the top of the ball.
Top
To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower; as, lofty ridges and topping mountains.
Top
To predominate; as, topping passions.
Top
To excel; to rise above others.
But write thy, and top.
Top
To strike a ball above the center.
Top
To rise at one end, as a yard; - usually with up.
Top
To cover on the top; to tip; to cap; - chiefly used in the past participle.
Like moving mountains topped with snow.
A mountOf alabaster, topped with golden spires.
Top
To rise above; to excel; to outgo; to surpass.
Topping all others in boasting.
Edmund the base shall top the legitimate.
Top
To rise to the top of; to go over the top of.
But wind about till thou hast topped the hill.
Top
To take off the or upper part of; to crop.
Top your rose trees a little with your knife.
Top
To perform eminently, or better than before.
From endeavoring universally to top their parts, they will go universally beyond them.
Top
To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other.
Top
To cover with another dye; as, to top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening and crocking.
Top
To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).
Top
To arrange, as fruit, with the best on top.
Top
To strike the top of, as a wall, with the hind feet, in jumping, so as to gain new impetus; - said of a horse.
Top
To improve (domestic animals, esp. sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior.
Top
To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other.
Top
To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel ingot) to remove unsound metal.
Top
To strike (the ball) above the center; also, to make (as a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way.
Top
The upper part of anything;
The mower cuts off the tops of the grass
The title should be written at the top of the first page
Top
The highest or uppermost side of anything;
Put your books on top of the desk
Only the top side of the box was painted
Top
The top point of a mountain or hill;
The view from the peak was magnificent
They clambered to the summit of Monadnock
Top
The first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat;
A relief pitcher took over in the top of the fifth
Top
The highest level or degree attainable;
His landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
The artist's gifts are at their acme
At the height of her career
The peak of perfection
Summer was at its peak
...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
The summit of his ambition
So many highest superlatives achieved by man
At the top of his profession
Top
The greatest possible intensity;
He screamed at the top of his lungs
Top
Platform surrounding the head of a lower mast
Top
A conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin;
He got a bright red top and string for his birthday
Top
Covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container);
He removed the top of the carton
He couldn't get the top off of the bottle
Put the cover back on the kettle
Top
A garment (especially for women) that extends from the shoulders to the waist or hips;
He stared as she buttoned her top
Top
A canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance;
He was afraid of a fire in the circus tent
They had the big top up in less than an hour
Top
Go beyond;
She exceeded our expectations
She topped her performance of last year
Top
Pass by, over, or under without making contact;
The balloon cleared the tree tops
Top
Be at the top of or constitute the top or highest point;
A star tops the Christmas Tree
Top
Be ahead of others; be the first;
She topped her class every year
Top
Provide with a top;
The towers were topped with conical roofs
Top
Reach or ascend the top of;
The hikers topped the mountain just before noon
Top
Strike (the top part of a ball in golf, baseball, or pool) giving it a forward spin
Top
Cut the top off;
Top trees and bushes
Top
Be the culminating event;
The speech crowned the meeting
Top
Finish up or conclude;
They topped off their dinner with a cognac
Top the evening with champagne
Top
Situated at the top or highest position;
The top shelf
Side fences
The side porch
Top
Not to be surpassed;
His top effort
