top-ranked
UK: ˌtɒp ˈræŋkt | US: ˌtɑːp ˈræŋkt
adj. holding the highest position in a ranking or competition
adj. widely recognized as superior in a particular field
The word combines "top," derived from Old English "topp" (summit or highest part), with "rank," from Old French "renc" (line or row), and the suffix "-ed" to form a past participle adjective. The term emerged in competitive contexts to denote achieving the highest position in a structured hierarchy, reflecting both literal and figurative superiority.
She is a top-ranked chess player globally.
The university is top-ranked for its engineering program.
The team finished the season as top-ranked in their league.
This product is top-ranked in customer satisfaction surveys.
His research paper was published in a top-ranked journal.