top dog

noun

Synonyms of top dognext
: a person, group, or thing in a position of authority especially through victory in a hard-fought competition

Examples of top dog in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Amazon is only the fourth company to earn the top ranking in the list’s 72-year history (before Walmart, the top dogs were General Motors and Exxon Mobil). Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 8 June 2026 But after cleaning house in the Windy City and establishing himself as the top dog of the criminal underworld, with a growing family to boot, will the allure of his past be enough to send him packing? Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 4 June 2026 Being the underdog and the top dog is part of every sport, but in tennis, the status is not fixed. Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 3 June 2026 On top of the extra cuddles, the top dogs even have their own baseball trading cards handed out to A's fans and were featured on the big screen during the game. Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for top dog

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of top dog was in 1900

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20dog. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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