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Meaning & use

top-of-the-line

adjective·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌtɒp əv ðə ˈlaɪn/
US/ˌtɑːp əv ðə ˈlaɪn/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Being the best or most expensive model that a company makes in a particular product range.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: a top-of-the-line laptop. It is not usually used after a linking verb.

    Patterns

    • top-of-the-line product
    • top-of-the-line model
    • top-of-the-line equipment

    They bought a top-of-the-line refrigerator with all the latest features.

    For a top-of-the-line smartphone, you can expect to pay over a thousand dollars.

    The hotel offers top-of-the-line service and spacious rooms.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Of the highest quality or standard; superior.

    Grammar: Also used before a noun to describe quality in general, not just products: top-of-the-line care.

    Patterns

    • top-of-the-line quality
    • top-of-the-line performance
    • top-of-the-line care

    The clinic is known for its top-of-the-line medical care.

    She received top-of-the-line training before starting the job.

    Their top-of-the-line customer support is why many people stay with the company.

Common combinations

top-of-the-line model
The top-of-the-line model includes a larger screen and more memory.
top-of-the-line equipment
The studio uses top-of-the-line equipment for every recording.
top-of-the-line service
Guests praised the top-of-the-line service at the resort.
top-of-the-line price
You pay a top-of-the-line price for that kind of quality.

Synonyms and how they differ

high-end
High-end also means expensive and of good quality, but it can describe a whole category of products, not just the best single model.
premium
Premium suggests higher quality than usual, but it does not always mean the absolute best in a company's range.
flagship
Flagship is used especially for a company's most important or best product, often the one that represents the brand.

Opposites

bottom-of-the-linebudgeteconomy

Commonly confused: top-of-the-line or top of the line?

top-of-the-line vs top of the line

Without hyphens, 'top of the line' can be a noun phrase meaning the highest position in a line, as in 'He was at the top of the line.' The hyphenated form is the adjective.

Practice

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