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Synonyms

tier

1 American  
[teer] / tɪər /

noun

  1. one of a series of rows or ranks rising one behind or above another, as of seats in an amphitheater, boxes in a theater, guns in a man-of-war, or oars in an ancient galley.

  2. one of a number of galleries, as in a theater.

  3. a layer; level; stratum.

    The wedding cake had six tiers.

    All three tiers of the firm's management now report to one director.

  4. Australian. a mountain range.

verb (used with object)

  1. to arrange in tiers.

verb (used without object)

  1. to rise in tiers.

tier 2 American  
[tahy-er] / ˈtaɪ ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that ties.

  2. Nautical. a short rope or band for securing a furled sail.

  3. New England. a child's apron or pinafore.

tier 1 British  
/ tɪə /

noun

  1. one of a set of rows placed one above and behind the other, such as theatre seats

    1. a layer or level

    2. ( in combination )

      a three-tier cake

  3. a rank, order, or row

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to be or arrange in tiers

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
tier 2 British  
/ ˈtaɪə /

noun

  1. a person or thing that ties

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tier1

First recorded in 1560–70; earlier also tire, tyre, teare, from Middle French, Old French tire, tiere “order, row, rank,” from Germanic; compare Old English, Old Saxon tīr, Old High German zēri “glory, adornment”

Origin of tier2

First recorded in 1625–35; tie + -er 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It would not be down to him, but he certainly does not regard himself as a coach who operates in the second tier.

From BBC

Last week, the company also announced a price hike, where its premium tier costs $27 a month.

From Los Angeles Times

The top tier consists of the anti-ballistic missile Arrow systems, with Arrow 2 operating both within the Earth's atmosphere and in space and Arrow 3 intercepting above the Earth's atmosphere.

From Barron's

At the upper tier is the Arrow 3, which intercepts long-range ballistic missiles that leave the Earth’s atmosphere and is among the best antimissile munitions in the world.

From The Wall Street Journal

The company on Thursday increased prices yet again across multiple subscription tiers.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.