topped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "topped" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something is covered or finished with an additional layer or element, often in culinary or figurative expressions. Example: "The dessert was topped with fresh berries and whipped cream."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At 11.30pm Democratic Unionists had 20 seats, Sinn Féin 13, Ulster Unionists 12, SDLP three, Progressive Unionists one, Alliance party one, and Dr Kieran Deeny, an independent campaigning to keep acute hospital services in Omagh, topped the poll in West Tyrone.

The Guardian

Worryingly for both Labour and the Conservatives, immigration topped the Ipsos Mori year in review index - and concern for this issue is up across all analysed groups.

The Guardian

Doctor Who, which topped the festive iPlayer charts for the last two years, slipped to ninth spot with 1m requests during a nine-day period over Christmas, according to figures published by the BBC on Wednesday.

The Guardian

Only a few months later, the Morningside Foundation, led by Hong Kong venture capitalists Ronnie and Gerald Chan, topped that with a $350m donation to the school of public health, where Gerald earned his master's and doctorate degrees.

The Guardian - Business

In the 1997 general election, it secured 24.1% of the vote, which dropped to 22% in the assembly election, although the party topped the poll after a poor performance by the Ul ster Unionists.

The Guardian

After a starter of cold duck's blood in a soup dish topped with golden, crisp fried shallots, we were served a huge platter of roasted carcass, and encouraged to toss the bones over our shoulders for the stray dogs to chew on.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Around two million people descend on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach – all dressed in white – to celebrate new year with a whole host of rituals topped off with a jaw-dropping fireworks display.

The Guardian - Travel

You would be mad to order anything but a dry buttery Manzanilla sherry, and it will most likely come accompanied by the most simple and delicious of tapas – a slice of crusty bread topped with mature Manchego and a sliver of local jamon.

The Guardian - Travel

The country's opposition Socialist party topped the poll with around 31.5% – leaving the ruling Social Democratic party in second place.

The Guardian

High-flyers at Goldman Sachs topped the pay league with 121 of its London-based bankers earning an average of £3m, almost double rivals at the next highest-paying bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The Guardian - Business

First, the pseudonymous climber Mustang Wanted repainted a Soviet star on one of Moscow's Stalin-era Seven Sisters skyscrapers in Ukrainian colours and topped it with a flag, to the delight of Pussy Riot.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a ranking or leaderboard, use "topped" to indicate the entity that holds the highest position. For example: "The company topped the list of fastest-growing startups."

Common error

Avoid using "topped" literally when a more nuanced word is appropriate. Instead of saying "The meeting was topped by a heated debate", consider using "concluded with" or "ended with" to better convey the tone and context.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "topped" is as a verb, typically in the past tense or past participle form. It signifies achieving the highest position or covering something with a layer. Ludwig examples show it used in contexts of rankings and culinary descriptions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Lifestyle

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "topped" is a versatile verb frequently used in English to indicate achieving the highest rank or covering something with an additional layer. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and most commonly found in news, lifestyle, and sport contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse audiences. While generally used correctly, pay attention to the intended meaning, avoiding its literal sense when a figurative one is more appropriate. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "led" or "finished with" to better suit the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

led

Indicates achieving the highest rank or position.

surpassed

Indicates exceeding a certain limit or achievement.

exceeded

Denotes going beyond a set limit or expectation.

crowned

Implies placing something at the highest point or being the best.

finished with

Indicates the completion of something by adding an extra element.

covered with

Describes the act of placing something over another, often for protection or decoration.

dominated

Indicates having control or superiority over others.

outstripped

Implies surpassing someone or something in achievement or performance.

bested

Suggests winning against someone in a competition or contest.

culminated in

Indicates that something reaches its highest point or final stage.

FAQs

How can I use "topped" in a sentence?

You can use "topped" to describe something that is at the highest position in a ranking, or to indicate that something has been covered with an additional layer. For example, "The team "topped the leaderboard"" or "The cake was "topped with cream"".

What can I say instead of "topped"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "led", "surpassed", or "finished with".

Which is correct, "topped the list" or "at the top of the list"?

"Topped the list" and "at the top of the list" are both correct, but "topped the list" is more concise and direct. It implies that the subject achieved the highest rank.

What's the difference between "topped" and "covered"?

"Topped" implies being at the highest point or position, or being the final layer on something, while "covered" simply means something is placed over another without necessarily being the highest point. For instance, a mountain may be covered in snow, but not necessarily "topped" by it.