tip-top

1 of 3

noun

ˈtip-ˈtäp 

-ˌtäp

plural tip-tops

: the highest point

If I had known how to climb rocks, … I would have climbed to the very tip-top of Arethusa Falls to see what the water looked like before it dropped over the ledge.

—Ann Beattie

Disembarking from the vessel, the sun is perfectly situated behind the tip-top of the Eiffel Tower.

—Eric Althoff

(figurative) … two people who were both—blithely, at times—at the very tip-top of Southern society.

—Meredith Grahl Counts

tip-top

2 of 3

adjective

: very good : excellent, first-rate

a car in tip-top condition

Besides training their dogs, mushers have to get their sleds in tip-top shape for race day …

—Sallie Luther

Tip-top health that stands the test of time requires a sensible diet …

—Frances Sheridan Goulart

tip-top

3 of 3

adverb

: very well

"Oh," was the reply, "John was doing very well. … He was out of debt and doing tip-top."

—John Harrison

Synonyms

Noun

• acme
• apex
• apogee
• capstone
• climax
• crescendo
• crest
• crown
• culmination
• head
• height
• high noon
• high-water mark
• meridian
• ne plus ultra
• noon
• noontime
• peak
• pinnacle
• sum
• summit
• top
• zenith

Adjective

• A-OK
• A1
• awesome
• bang-up
• banner
• beautiful
• blue-chip
• blue-ribbon
• boffo
• bonny [chiefly British]
• bonnie
• boss [slang]
• brag
• brave
• bully
• bumper
• capital
• choice
• classic
• cool [slang]
• corking
• crackerjack
• cracking
• dandy
• divine
• dope [slang]
• down [slang]
• dynamite
• excellent
• fab
• fabulous
• famous
• fantabulous [slang]
• fantastic
• fine
• first-class
• first-rate
• first-string
• five-star
• four-star
• frontline
• gangbusters
• gangbuster
• gilt-edged
• gilt-edge
• gone [slang]
• grand
• great
• groovy
• heavenly
• high-class
• hot
• hype [slang]
• immense
• jim-dandy
• keen
• lovely
• marvelous
• marvellous
• mean
• neat
• nifty
• noble
• number one
• No. 1
• numero uno
• out-of-sight [slang]
• par excellence
• peachy
• peachy keen
• phat [slang]
• prime
• primo [slang]
• prize
• prizewinning
• quality
• radical [slang]
• righteous [slang]
• sensational
• slick
• splendid
• stellar
• sterling
• superb
• superior
• superlative
• supernal
• swell
• terrific
• top
• top-notch
• top-of-the-line
• top-shelf
• topflight
• topping [chiefly British]
• unsurpassed
• wizard [chiefly British]
• wonderful

Examples of tip-top in a Sentence

Noun

this trail will take you to the fire tower at the tip-top of that hill

Adjective

the doctor told me I was in tip-top shape

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Baskets Thrift stores are full of baskets of all shapes and sizes, and these can be great for helping to get your pantry into tip-top shape, says Angela Mai, the founder of Organized Calm Home Organizing in Dallas, Texas. —Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2025

Keep your citrus trees in tip-top shape with this step-by-step pruning guide. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2025

Adverb

To keep it working in tip-top form, thoroughly and quickly clean all the parts immediately after using. —Maya Polton, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Mar. 2023

This formula relies on flaxseed and perilla seed oils to strengthen keratin, as well as skin-softening apricot seed oil to keep fingers in tip-top shape, and earned our coveted Best of Beauty Award in 2018. —Alexis Rhiannon, Allure, 16 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

tip entry 3 + top

First Known Use

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1722, in the meaning defined above

Adverb

1855, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tip-top

1 of 2 noun

ˈtip-ˈtäp,

-ˌtäp

: the highest point

tip-top

2 of 2 adjective

: very good : excellent

in tip-top shape

tip-top adverb