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Definition of precedence
1a obsolete : antecedentb : the fact of coming or occurring earlier in time
2a : the right to superior honor on a ceremonial or formal occasionb : the order of ceremonial or formal preferencec : priority of importance your safety takes precedence
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Examples of precedence in a Sentence
Americans, Adams now believed, were as driven by the passions for wealth and precedence as any people in history. Ambition, avarice, and resentment, not virtue and benevolence, were the stuff of American society. —Gordon S. Wood, Revolutionary Characters, 2006
So, too, did most accept that all economies are characterized by struggles for power and precedence among men and institutions run by men; in other words, that all economies are fundamentally political in nature. —Barry C. Lynn, Harper's, July 2006
Jefferson abolished precedence and placement at White House dinners to emphasize that all guests were equal, but his system—he called it “pell-mell”—was abandoned, and we have guests of honor and use place cards today. —Naomi Bliven, New York Times Book Review, 12 Sept. 1999
his merchandise order takes precedence because we received it first
Recent Examples of precedence from the Web
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That took precedence, but surgery, chemo and radiation beat the cancer back.
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Spin often took precedence over transparency, as customers’ access to information was limited.
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But none of those things takes precedence over general decency toward others.
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And while supporting nonprofits is important, working toward large-scale solutions can take precedence.
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And because grades were irrelevant, the challenge of the assignment took precedence.
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The progression of a pitcher like Eickhoff, a mid-rotation arm the team hopes to cultivate, takes precedence over the wins and losses.
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For me, finishing work always took precedence over workouts.
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Both of Agassi's children were born during his playing career, and Becker has hinted that Djokovic's family life was beginning to take precedence over training.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'precedence'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of precedence
see precede
PRECEDENCE Defined for English Language Learners
precedence
playDefinition of precedence for English Language Learners
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: the condition of being more important than something or someone else and therefore coming or being dealt with first
Learn More about precedence
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for precedence Spanish Central: Translation of precedence Nglish: Translation of precedence for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of precedence for Arabic speakers
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