The term 'TOP RANKING' can be broken down into two crossword solutions: PREMIER (7 letters) and TEN (3 letters). PREMIER is a French word meaning 'FIRST' or 'highest in rank'. It is often used to describe the leader of a government, such as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. TEN is a number that is one higher than nine and one lower than eleven. It is often used to refer to the highest level of something, such as the top TEN ranking of a school or university.