  We present an in-depth analysis of axions and axion-like particles in
top-pair production at the LHC. Our main goal is to probe the axion coupling to
top quarks at high energies. To this end, we calculate the top-antitop cross
section and differential distributions including ALP effects up to one-loop
level. By comparing these predictions with LHC precision measurements, we
constrain the top coupling of axion-like particles with masses below the
top-antitop threshold. Our results apply to all UV completions of the ALP
effective theory with dominant couplings to top quarks, in particular to
DFSZ-like axion models.
