Meanings
plural top gears
- countableuncountableThe highest gear that is available in a motor vehicle or car.
Near-synonyms: (often synonymous) fifth gear, overdrive
2 more examples
His Packard rarely saw top gear, because in the 1930s this county barely had any roads smooth and straight enough to use it on.
The Second World War was reaching fever pitch, with the entire Allied effort in top gear for the imminent invasion of Europe, while later that month buzz bombs would start falling on London.
2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42Synonyms: fifth gear, overdrive · Antonyms: granny gear, low gear, first gear
- countablefigurativelyuncountableThe highest level of performance or activity.
Things really shifted into top gear once they found a new angel investor.
Synonyms: overdrive, full throttle · Antonyms: low gear
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe highest gear that is available in a motor vehicle or car.
Cite this entry
top gear. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/top%20gear
“top gear.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/top%20gear. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “top gear,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/top%20gear.
Source: top gear on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.