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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The announcement of the ex-Activision Blizzard president and COO as the new top dog came late Wednesday, mere hours after a New York Times article that posited the former Viacom CFO was in his last days running the joint. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2024 When the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees last met in the World Series in 1981, there was no question which city was top dog. Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024 Cheesy Garlic Bread won in 2012, Kettle-Cooked Wasabi Ginger took the cake in 2014, Southern Biscuits and Gravy was crowned in 2015 and Crispy Taco was the top dog in 2017. Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024 The environment creates an uncomfortable awareness that one, as a person, is not top dog. Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 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 14 Nov. 2024.

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