precedence

American  

[pres-i-duhns, pri-seed-ns] / ˈprɛs ɪ dəns, prɪˈsid ns /

noun

1. act or fact of preceding.

2. the right to precede in order, rank, or importance; priority.

3. the fact of preceding in time; antedating.

4. the right to precede others in ceremonies or social formalities.

5. the order to be observed in ceremonies by persons of different ranks, as by diplomatic protocol.

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precedence British  

/ ˈprɛsɪdəns /

noun

1. the act of preceding or the condition of being precedent

2. the ceremonial order or priority to be observed by persons of different stations on formal occasions

   the officers are seated according to precedence

3. a right to preferential treatment

   I take precedence over you

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Etymology

Origin of precedence

First recorded in 1475–85; preced(ent) + -ence

Explanation

Notice the verb "precede" in the noun precedence, and you'll be able to remember that precedence is the act of preceding, of coming before — either in time or in rank. When you're stranded without food or water, the search for water should definitely take precedence over the search for food, since you'll die of dehydration long before you starve. When deciding where to seat people, restaurant owners give precedence to the famous and rich: making them happy will be good for business. Which things take precedence over others depends on what you think is more important. "Age before beauty," I always say.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

precedence

Spending on expanding its presence in the U.K. market will take precedence in the near term.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026

Called the Bergen Loop, the project is nowhere close to fruition, with the Hudson Tunnel project and various other elements of the program taking precedence.

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026

But Epstein talk has definitely been on the back burner in recent weeks, with the war in Iran especially taking precedence.

From Slate ● Apr. 10, 2026

Few could say they were surprised by the nine changes after the Portuguese had hinted in his pre-match comments that surviving in the Premier League took precedence.

From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026

They tumble forth, competing for precedence and sometimes coming out so tangled I have to back up and pick up a different thread.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen