tops

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "tops" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an informal adverb to mean “absolutely” or “definitely”. For example, you could say, "That was tops! I had so much fun."

✓ Grammatically correct

Clothing

Sports

Cooking

Geography

Statistics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Even perfectly ordinary trousers and tops can sometimes look odd because short people aren't just inflicted with short legs; we're short all over.

The Guardian - Travel

We knew readers would be looking at the Guardian on Watch for a few seconds, tops.

The Guardian

And when you get home it will be a while before you forget the casual whoop of the tree frogs at nightfall or the magnificent flamboyant trees with their thick, confident branches and shocking red-feather tops.

The Guardian - Travel

Place the scones on your prepared baking tray and brush the tops with the egg. 5 Place the scones in the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until well risen and golden.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Some policies also make a 'proportionate' payment which tops up earnings if you go back to work full-time but take a lower-paid job.

The Guardian - Money

In the Egyptian summer, which regularly tops 40C, both the trekkers and the cameras struggled.

The Guardian

Let the eggs fry, occasionally basting the tops with the hot tomato sauce.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

With its $95m penthouse, 432 Park Avenue tops out just shy of 427m.

The Guardian

For at that very moment we were on our first full day in the country, scoffing rounds of Thai food and listening to tales of existential crisis, and the snow was continuing to settle on the tops of the Andes.

The Guardian - Travel

The jury saw CCTV footage of the man being robbed on a platform at 11.07pm and a minute later, two men in hooded tops running out of the tube station.

The Guardian

It is, by all accounts, a chilly evening in Porto Alegre and both sets of players are wearing their tracksuit tops for the preliminaries.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tops" as an adverb meaning "at most", ensure the context is informal. For formal writing, consider alternatives like "maximum" or "at most."

Common error

Avoid using "tops" as an adverb in formal or academic writing. While acceptable in casual conversation, it may sound out of place in professional documents. Instead, opt for more formal alternatives like "at most" or "the maximum."

Linguistic Context

The word "tops" functions as a plural noun, referring to multiple upper garments or high points. It also serves as a third-person singular verb, meaning to surpass or exceed. Additionally, it can function as an adjective meaning "great or excellent", and as an adverb meaning "at the very most". Ludwig AI identifies the different possibilities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Lifestyle

25%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Books

8%

Travel

7%

Opinion

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "tops" is a versatile term that can function as a plural noun, a third-person singular verb, an adjective, and an adverb. As Ludwig AI shows, its usage is widespread across various contexts, from describing clothing and geographical features to indicating maximum limits and expressing approval. While generally grammatically correct, the adverbial use of "tops" is best suited for informal contexts. For formal writing, it's advisable to opt for alternatives such as "maximum" or "at most". The Guardian and The Economist appear among the most frequent authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

maximum

Refers to the greatest possible amount, similar to "tops" when used as an adverb.

at most

Indicates an upper limit, mirroring the adverbial usage of "tops".

no more than

Specifies a limit that cannot be exceeded, similar to "tops" as an adverb.

best

Implies the highest quality or rank, relating to the adjectival sense of "tops".

elite

Denotes a select group of the highest caliber, akin to "tops" in describing superior quality.

summit

Refers to the highest point, paralleling the noun form of "tops" in a geographical context.

highest point

Directly indicates the greatest elevation or level, similar to "tops" as a noun.

upper limit

Clearly defines the maximum boundary, equivalent to the adverbial use of "tops".

cream of the crop

Indicates the best individuals or items from a larger group, similar to the adjectival use of "tops".

upper echelons

Refers to the highest levels in an organization or society, akin to "tops" in denoting superior rank.

FAQs

How can I use "tops" in a sentence?

"Tops" can be used as a plural noun (e.g., "The mountain tops were covered in snow"), a third-person singular verb (e.g., "He tops the class in mathematics"), an adjective (e.g., "It's a tops idea!"), or an adverb meaning "at most" (e.g., "The project will take two weeks, tops").

What does "tops" mean when used as an adverb?

When used as an adverb, "tops" means "at most" or "maximum". For example, "The meeting will last an hour, "at most"" is equivalent to "The meeting will last an hour, tops".

Which is correct, "tops" or "top" when referring to clothing?

When referring to multiple items of clothing worn on the upper body, the correct form is "tops". "Top" refers to a single item (e.g., "She wore a variety of jeans and "uppers"").

What are some synonyms for "tops" when it means 'best'?

When "tops" is used to indicate the best or highest quality, synonyms include "best", "elite", "cream of the crop", or "upper echelons".