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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
LeBron seems motivated to prove that while Luka might be the future, LeBron is presently still top dog. Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025 Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Dog Man was the top dog Thursday night with $881K, +4% from Wednesday for a first week of $40.4M. Heart Eyes’ previews are on par with Companion‘s $1.1M Thursday previews a week ago. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 8 Feb. 2025 So, the question: Which team is currently the true top dog in this town from an interest standpoint, the Dodgers or the Lakers? Jim Alexander, Orange County Register, 7 Feb. 2025 Somewhat remarkably, despite producing some of the best homegrown talent of the last four decades, this is the first time Boston has ever been the top dog in the publication’s annual preseason grades, which began in 1984. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top dog.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20dog. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on top dog

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!