top dollar

noun

: the highest amount being paid for a commodity or service
… willing to pay top dollar to get them …—Dean Failey

Examples of top dollar 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.
And Trump’s trade wars have exposed supply-chain risks that companies will pay top dollar to understand. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026 But the Dodgers are the greatest show in baseball, playing before stadiums packed with fans willing to shell out top dollar to see a roster that includes international superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Still, any of Giacometti’s standing women could bring in top dollar, as these sculptures occupy some of the priciest territory in both the artist’s oeuvre and modern sculpture more broadly. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026 The price of goods are up about 30% and every market is demanding top dollar for their stuff. — Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for top dollar

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of top dollar was in 1895

Rhymes for top dollar

See All Rhymes for top dollar

Browse Nearby Words

top dog
top dollar
top-down
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Top dollar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/top%20dollar. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

top dollar

noun
: the highest amount being paid for an article, product, or service
paid top dollar for the tickets
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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