top dog

noun

: 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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The annual nationwide competition identifies America’s top dogs in five key categories: military dogs; law enforcement and first responder dogs; service and guide or hearing dogs; therapy dogs; and emerging hero and shelter dogs. Brittany Kasko, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024 The other side: Shapiro is still top dog, pundits say. Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024 The same goes for mountain lions, which are currently the top dog, so to speak. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 30 Nov. 2024 McLaren exits Zandvoort as the current top dog in F1 and will be favored to win many of the remaining grands prix. Madeline Coleman, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near top dog

Cite this Entry

“Top dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20dog. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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