as in priority
the right to one's attention before other things considered less important his merchandise order takes precedence because we received it first

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precedence The law says that risk mitigation takes precedence over cost. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025 That legal philosophy — that national security interests take precedence over individual liberties — is likely what the Trump administration is banking on to deport students for participating in pro-Palestinian protests. Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 27 Mar. 2025 If the eclipse falls in the tenth house of career, then news in your professional life is going to take precedence. Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 26 Mar. 2025 Together, the cases exemplify a growing trend in which U.S. political and corporate actors attempt to undermine foreign regulatory authority by pressing the case that domestic U.S. law and corporate protections should take precedence over sovereign policies globally. Camille Grenier, The Conversation, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for precedence

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Precedence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precedence. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on precedence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!