Top-down processing is a cognitive approach where our brain uses prior knowledge, experiences, and expectations to interpret sensory information. This means that our understanding of what we see, hear, or feel is influenced by what we already know, allowing us to make quick decisions and recognize patterns. For example, when reading a sentence, we often understand the meaning of words even if some letters are missing. Our brain fills in the gaps based on context and familiarity with language, demonstrating how top-down processing helps us efficiently process information in our environment.