top dollar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, chiefly used in business, commerce, and everyday speech about money and value.
Quick answer
What does “top dollar” mean?
A very high price or wage.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very high price or wage.
The highest possible amount of money paid for something or earned; to pay or receive a premium price. Also used to indicate high quality or prestige associated with a high price.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant grammatical or semantic differences. More frequently used in American English, particularly in business/financial contexts, but fully understood and used in British English.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes premium value. Slightly more colloquial/businessy in the UK, while more integrated into general informal AmE.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “top dollar” in a Sentence
[Subject] pay top dollar for [object][Subject] command/fetch top dollarIt sells for/goes for top dollar[Subject] is worth top dollarVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “top dollar” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- It was a top-dollar offer we couldn't refuse.
- He's in a top-dollar consultancy role.
American English
- She's looking for a top-dollar apartment in the city.
- They provide a top-dollar service for clients.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to discuss acquisition costs, salaries for top talent, or the selling price of premium goods. 'We had to pay top dollar to secure the prime retail space.'
Academic
Rare in formal academic writing. May appear in economics or business case studies discussing pricing strategies or labour markets.
Everyday
Common when discussing expensive purchases, house prices, or salaries. 'They got top dollar for their vintage car.'
Technical
Not a technical term. Would not be used in legal, medical, or highly specific engineering documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “top dollar”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “top dollar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “top dollar”
- Using 'top money' instead of 'top dollar'.
- Using it with countable plural 'dollars' (e.g., 'top dollars') – it is almost always singular.
- Using it in overly formal contexts where 'a premium price' or 'the maximum price' would be more appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically to imply the highest level of value, effort, or prestige in a non-financial context (e.g., 'He puts top-dollar effort into every project').
No, the standard, idiomatic phrase is almost always the singular 'top dollar', even when referring to a large sum.
It is informal to semi-formal. It is common in business journalism and conversation but would be replaced with more formal terms like 'a premium price' or 'the maximum remuneration' in very formal contracts or academic papers.
'Top dollar' specifically implies the *highest* price in a given context or market. 'Big money' is more general, meaning simply a large amount of money, not necessarily the maximum possible.
A very high price or wage.
Top dollar: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtɒp ˈdɒl.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtɑːp ˈdɑː.lɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pay top dollar”
- “Command top dollar”
- “Fetch top dollar”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a stack of dollar bills. 'Top dollar' is the single bill on the very TOP of the tallest stack – it's the highest one you can get.
Conceptual Metaphor
VALUE/QUALITY IS HEIGHT (top), MONEY IS A COMMODITY (dollar). High monetary value is conceptualised as being at a elevated physical position.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely meaning of 'top dollar' in this sentence: 'The actress commands top dollar for every film she stars in.'?