top billing

noun

1
: prominent emphasis, featuring, or advertising
2
: the position at the top of a theatrical bill usually featuring the star's name

Examples of top billing in a Sentence

despite being of epic proportions, the famine overseas rarely received top billing in the American press
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Auburn beat out Duke to receive top billing in the tournament despite those three losses over the past two weeks, and despite also dropping a game to the Blue Devils back in December. CBS News, 16 Mar. 2025 Shearling and faux furs, especially when used in dramatic proportions or applied as extreme detailing, took top billing. Luisa Zargani, WWD, 2 Mar. 2025 Moana 2, at the same time, had top billing in the ship’s cinemas, which show both first-run and classic Disney and Pixar movies. Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 Jan. 2025 The role of self-destructive alcoholic rock star John Norman Howard A Star Is Born was originally supposed to be played by Elvis Presley, but Presley’s manager, Tom Parker, demanded top billing and 50 percent of the soundtrack. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for top billing

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of top billing was in 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top billing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20billing. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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