tahp
Top refers to the highest or uppermost part, position, or rank of something. As a noun, it means the summit or peak; as a verb, to exceed or surpass; as an adjective, being at the highest level or of the best quality.
5
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
💡 Pro Tip:
TOP is versatile for creating multiple crosswords and can be extended to TOPS, TOPPING, TOPPED, or combined with prefixes like ATOP, LAPTOP, or ROOFTOP.
Top is one of the most versatile three-letter words in English, functioning as a noun, verb, adjective, and even an adverb. Its primary meaning relates to the highest or uppermost part of something, but it has evolved to encompass concepts of superiority, excellence, and maximum performance.
As a noun: The summit, peak, or highest point of something ("the top of the mountain"); the upper surface or covering ("the top of the table"); a garment for the upper body; a toy that spins on its point.
As a verb: To exceed or surpass ("to top last year's sales"); to reach the summit of ("to top the hill"); to provide with a top or finish ("to top a cake with frosting"); to remove the top part ("to top a tree").
As an adjective: Being at the highest position ("top shelf"); of the best quality or highest rank ("top performer"); maximum or greatest ("top speed").
In word games, TOP is particularly valuable because of its flexibility in forming compounds and extensions. Its common usage makes it easy to remember, while its ability to connect with numerous prefixes and suffixes creates strategic opportunities for high-scoring plays.
The word "top" has ancient roots, deriving from Old English "topp," meaning "summit, crest, tuft." This traces back to Proto-Germanic "*tuppaz," which also gave rise to similar words in other Germanic languages: Dutch "top," German "Zopf" (braid, originally "tuft of hair"), and Old Norse "toppr" (tuft, summit).
The evolution of meanings followed this timeline:
The spinning toy sense of "top" has a separate etymology, possibly from Latin "turbo" (whirl), though some linguists argue it derives from the shape resembling a tuft or peak when spinning.
Words with similar meaning
Peak
The highest point or summit
Summit
The highest point of a hill or mountain
Apex
The top or highest part of something
Crest
The top of a mountain or hill
Crown
The top part of something
Best
Of the highest quality (as adjective)
Words with opposite meaning
Bottom
The lowest part or point
Base
The lowest part or foundation
Foot
The lower end of something
Nadir
The lowest point
Worst
Of the poorest quality (as adjective)
Minimum
The least or smallest amount
Plural Form
tops
The tops of the mountains were covered in snow.
Verb Forms
tops, topping, topped
She topped her previous record.
Common Extensions
In a position of control or success
Most important task or concern
Best quality available
Completely; throughout
"She reached the top of her career after twenty years of dedicated work."
"The child spun the wooden top across the kitchen floor."
"Please clean the top of the table before dinner."
"Sales this quarter are expected to top last year's record."
"The chef decided to top the dessert with fresh berries."
"Nothing can top the feeling of achieving your dreams."
"She graduated with top honors from the university."
"The company hired only top talent for the project."
"He drove at top speed to reach the hospital in time."
Total base points: 5 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 1 | Consonants: 2
Common letters: T, O (2 pts combined)
💡 Tip: The P gives this word most of its value. Place it on double/triple letter scores for maximum points!
Valid 3-letter anagrams:
Can be extended to:
Best board positions for TOP:
Remember: Three-letter words are essential for tight board situations and creating multiple crosswords.
"Top" has become synonymous with excellence and leadership in business contexts. Terms like "top management," "top performer," and "top tier" dominate corporate language. The concept of being "at the top" represents success, achievement, and authority in organizational hierarchies.
From "Top 40" music charts to "Top Gun" movies, the word has become a cultural marker of superiority and ranking. Reality shows like "Top Chef" and "America's Next Top Model" have further embedded the word in entertainment culture as a symbol of competition and excellence.
The digital era has given new life to "top" through features like "back to top" buttons, "top posts," "top trending," and "top rated." Social media algorithms often prioritize "top" content, making it a key concept in digital navigation and content discovery.
The word "top" has been adopted into many languages as a loanword, particularly in fashion ("tank top"), technology ("desktop," "laptop"), and rankings. Its simplicity and versatility have made it one of the most internationally recognized English words.
No "the" needed in this phrase
One word, not two
Top is already superlative
Missing anagram opportunities
Remember POT and OPT are valid plays
Forgetting extensions
STOP, ATOP, TOPS are easy extensions
Poor P placement
The P is worth 3 points - maximize it!
Not using for parallel plays
TOP's common letters make great parallels
POT
Anagram of TOP
OPT
Another anagram
TIP
Similar structure
TAP
Related 3-letter word
STOP
TOP extension
ATOP
Meaning "on top"
PEAK
Synonym
APEX
Synonym
CAP
Related concept
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like TOP