How to Use have/take precedence over in a Sentence

have/take precedence over

phrase
  • Taking care of kids and a job might take precedence over tidiness.
    — David Oliver, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2023
  • When the cost of housing must take precedence over the cost of healthy food, medicine, heat or fuel.
    — Richard Besser, ABC News, 30 July 2021
  • The aggressor’s rights do not take precedence over the rights of its victims.
    — Lawrence H. Summers, Foreign Affairs, 15 June 2023
  • So music’s going to take precedence over anything else being booked in.
    — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 3 May 2024
  • At the same time, your duties to your own child do take precedence over your concerns for the children of others.
    — Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2023
  • But the title wasn’t enough to take precedence over his talent, and his plans to stay behind the scenes quickly changed.
    — Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2022
  • But county health directives take precedence over the state rulings.
    — Scott Ostler, SFChronicle.com, 20 Oct. 2020
  • Quickly solved problems could take precedence over ones that may be more serious, but take more time to address.
    — Raymond Scheppach, The Conversation, 7 July 2021
  • Ultimately, your needs and preferences should take precedence over most of the specs here.
    — PCMAG, 2 Feb. 2023
  • Dig deep, ask experts and let your intelligence take precedence over feelings.
    — Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2024
  • Sure, the outfits tend to take precedence over hair, but a good cut can totally transform an aesthetic.
    — Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 7 Feb. 2025
  • In many instances, the size of the book shelf and available space will take precedence over the number of shelves when deciding what’s best for you.
    — Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2022
  • Caglianone is under team control for six seasons, and those six seasons just have to take precedence over an immediate fix.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2025
  • On the one hand, a postapocalyptic world is so dangerous that survival must take precedence over kindness.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025
  • That public duty should take precedence over private interest.
    — Eric Heavner, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2025
  • But the mental health and physical well-being of players should take precedence over everything else.
    — Vincent Frank, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024
  • Those other cases cannot take precedence over the Supreme Court, according to Nwosu.
    — William Clowes, Bloomberg.com, 14 Jan. 2021
  • Still, as pointed out by Aakeson, a sense of loyalty would sometimes take precedence over helping out a person in need.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 19 Apr. 2023
  • Reddit users have chimed in, with many questioning why the brother's wedding would take precedence over his education.
    — Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • One friend suggested that maintaining their friendship should take precedence over money and urged the poster to give H her half of the deposit.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • In life, feelings sometimes take precedence over facts, practicalities, etc.
    — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 1 Sep. 2023
  • Hereditary laws may also take precedence over other arrangements if your country of residence has such laws.
    — Tom Zachystal, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024
  • Runaway Railway follows a school of theme park design where vignettes take precedence over a definitive plot.
    — Todd Martensgame Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2023
  • Should a missing tourism vessel for the ultra-wealthy take precedence over other consequential stories happening around the world?
    — Oliver Darcy, CNN, 21 June 2023
  • These areas should take precedence over subsidizing an industry that the private sector has struggled to maintain.
    — Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 25 July 2024
  • Trump suggested his wishes to rapidly carry out mass deportations may take precedence over giving immigrants the right to due process.
    — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 5 May 2025
  • Last season, with his contract expiring, the idea of spending more time with his family began to take precedence over prolonging his career.
    — Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2023
  • For occasions whose dress code is more relaxing pr up-to-your-own-discretion, dress sneakers can take precedence over loafers, oxfords, or other hardcore dress shoes.
    — Men's Health, 3 Mar. 2023
  • Trying to develop the young talent on the roster, or the players coming up soon from Iowa, might take precedence over the need to actually win the game.
    — Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, 9 Aug. 2021
  • While most back-to-work scenarios are more cut-and-dried — the studio film will take precedence over the passion-project indie — other situations are more nebulous.
    — Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Sep. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'have/take precedence over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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