The top is the highest point or upper surface of something. When you climb to the top of a hill, you've reached its highest spot. The top of your desk is where you set your books and pencil case. A spinning top is a toy that spins on its pointed end while the wider part rotates above.

When something is on top, it sits above other things: books stacked with the heaviest on top, or whipped cream on top of hot chocolate. Being on top of something can also mean you're managing it well. If you're on top of your homework, you're staying organized and keeping up with assignments.

The word describes excellence and leadership too. The top student in class has the highest grades. A top athlete performs better than most competitors. When someone reaches the top of their profession, they've achieved the highest level of success in their field, like a top surgeon or a top musician.

You can top something by adding a finishing layer, like topping a pizza with pepperoni or topping a sundae with a cherry. And if you top your previous performance, you've done even better than before, beating your own record.