You can use the .top statement only while block mode is in effect (that is, after a .block statement, but before the corresponding .endblock statement). It moves the current output line to the first (topmost) line in the block.

The character position on the topmost line is the same as its previous position on the line when the last .newline statement affected the topmost line. To get to the left margin of the top line, use the .tab statement with no parameters. To get to the last nonblank character on the line, use the .lineend statement.