top-shelf
adjective
1
: of the best quality
top-shelf products
Reading does have one top-shelf tourist attraction, a gorgeous pagoda that sits atop a mountain.—
Joe Queenan
Joe Queenan2
[from the placement of sexually explicit magazines for sale on high shelves out of the reach of children] British
: containing pornographic material
top-shelf magazines
This year, retailers are going to come under increased pressure to clean up their acts. Of course, they're not obliged to sell top-shelf mags.—The Grocer
The GrocerExamples of top-shelf in a Sentence
hoping to impress the new neighbors, she brought a top-shelf wine as a housewarming gift
Recent Examples on the Web
The Full List What Readers Loved About Atlanta Atlanta’s top-shelf hotel stock makes this list a competitive one.
—Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
That spectrum of performance makes the top-shelf R1 series unique, an addictive mixture of supercar speed and super truck capability.
—Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2025
For those seeking an extra kick, their top-shelf options feature Tequila Ocho Blanco or Lost Explorer mezcal.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
In other words, keep an eye on a defense led by what should be a top-shelf line that will likely have to make a difference early in the schedule.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for top-shelf
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Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2025
That spectrum of performance makes the top-shelf R1 series unique, an addictive mixture of supercar speed and super truck capability.
—Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2025
For those seeking an extra kick, their top-shelf options feature Tequila Ocho Blanco or Lost Explorer mezcal.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
In other words, keep an eye on a defense led by what should be a top-shelf line that will likely have to make a difference early in the schedule.
—Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for top-shelf
Cite this Entry
“Top-shelf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top-shelf. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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