precedence

precedence — noun

1. a state where one need, rule, or plan is treated as more important and is dealt

1.nounC1
Definition

a state where one need, rule, or plan is treated as more important and is dealt with before others.

Example

Safety takes precedence over speed on this building site.

take precedence over + noun

When money was short, Mia gave precedence to rent over new clothes.

give precedence to + need

Common collocations
  • take precedence over speed
  • give precedence to safety
  • have precedence over other plans
  • student safety takes precedence
Synonyms
  • priority

    the everyday word for something that should come first

  • importance

    broader and does not always suggest being handled first

  • primacy

    more abstract and often used for a leading principle or value

Grammar Patterns

take precedence over something

have precedence over something

give precedence to something

Usage Note

Usually followed by "over" and often used with abstract nouns such as safety, law, need, or cost. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about the ranking of people in formal settings rather than the priority of actions or rules.

Common Mistakes

Safety has precedence than speed.
Safety has precedence over speed.
the usual pattern is 'precedence over', not 'precedence than'.

2. the arranged ranking that shows which people in a group should come ahead of oth

2.nounC2
Definition

the arranged ranking that shows which people in a group should come ahead of others at a formal event or within an organization.

Example

Before the state dinner, staff checked the precedence of foreign guests.

precedence of + group

In the parade, local judges had precedence over club leaders.

have precedence over + people

Common collocations
  • order of precedence
  • precedence of family members
  • precedence among officials
  • take precedence over guests
Synonyms
  • rank

    a broader word for place in a system or list

  • seniority

    stresses longer service or higher position, especially at work

  • standing

    suggests social or official position more generally

Grammar Patterns

the order of precedence

have precedence over someone

precedence among officials or family members

Usage Note

Most common in government, religious, military, and ceremonial contexts. Distinguish from sense 1, which usually compares needs, rules, or plans rather than deciding which people should be placed first.

Common Mistakes

At the dinner, teachers had priority of students.
At the dinner, teachers had precedence over students.
this sense uses 'precedence over' for formal ranking between people.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Precedence is a formal word used when one thing must come before another because of a rule, policy, or clear need. Priority is the normal everyday choice for the same general idea. Preference is different: it usually shows what a person likes or chooses, not what must come first. Primacy is more abstract and often describes the leading place of an idea, power, or value over a longer time. In a safety report, you might write, 'Safety takes precedence over speed.' In daily speech, 'Finishing my homework is my top priority' sounds much more natural. 'I have a preference for morning meetings' expresses personal choice, not formal order.

precedence ↗priority ↗preference ↗primacy

Common collocations

Phrases

  • take precedence over
  • have precedence over

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

English precedence came through French and late Latin forms built on the Latin verb praecedere, meaning "to go before". That history explains the modern senses of coming first in importance and standing ahead of others in rank.