Top-rated
adj.capable, joyfulprofessional
What it means
Receiving one of the highest scores or evaluations in a stated rating system.
Reach for it when reporting strong external ratings while naming the source and period where possible
The top-rated course earned high marks from both graduates and their employers.
Choose between these
5- playful
when the system genuinely uses a five-star scale
not when Five-star is inaccurate for another scale and often functions as hype.
- everyday
best-reviewed
when published reviews rather than formal ratings are the evidence
not when Best-reviewed depends on the review pool and may not reflect quality for every user.
- professional
highly rated
when strong evaluations matter without claiming the top position
not when Highly rated is safer when several options score similarly.
- professional
top-ranked
when an ordered list rather than score is the basis
not when Ranking and rating are different measures and should not be silently exchanged.
- formal
when critics or respected bodies offer broad praise
not when Acclaim is qualitative and need not arise from ratings.
Said against
3- poorly rated
- panned
- bottom-ranked
It naturally appears in
3- top-rated school
The top-rated school publishes how its satisfaction score is calculated.
- top-rated product
A top-rated product may still be unsuitable for this climate.
- top-rated provider
The top-rated provider improved access in every rural district.
Where this comes from
Ratings are meaningful only with a visible source, method, sample, and date.
- Wiktionary, English adjective sense: given a very high rating opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.