On top or ontop?
on top is an adverb meaning “On the highest point or surface”; ontop is a preposition meaning “atop”. on top is written as two words and ontop as one word; they are used differently.
What is the difference between on top and ontop?
| on top | ontop | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | adverb | preposition |
| Meaning | On the highest point or surface In a dominant position | |
| Example | Stand on top and look down | none recorded |
| Pronunciation | not recorded | not recorded |
| In writing | not counted (the list counts single words) | about once in every 7 million words |
Sources: on top and ontop in the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
Every current meaning of on top and ontop
on top
- 1
On the highest point or surface
Stand on top and look down
- 2
In a dominant position
At the end of the season, Manchester United came out on top
Source: the English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0); obsolete, archaic, dialect and rare senses left out.
Which is more common, on top or ontop?
on top is a phrase, which the list of single words does not count; ontop about once in every 7 million words.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).