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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of precedence
Existing trademarks typically take precedence over new bids.
—
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Additionally, agencies may prioritize their own KPIs over the brand's overarching goals, leading flagship assets to take precedence, even when other channels drive the majority of spend and outcomes.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
With neither Swedish nor German able to claim precedence, English emerged as neutral ground—less a deliberate strategy than a diplomatic necessity, according to Carolina Granat, ABB’s chief human resources officer.
—Aslesha Mehta, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Grant chose to obey the law, not the commander in chief, establishing that in peacetime, congressional authority takes precedence.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precedence
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Additionally, agencies may prioritize their own KPIs over the brand's overarching goals, leading flagship assets to take precedence, even when other channels drive the majority of spend and outcomes.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
With neither Swedish nor German able to claim precedence, English emerged as neutral ground—less a deliberate strategy than a diplomatic necessity, according to Carolina Granat, ABB’s chief human resources officer.
—Aslesha Mehta, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
Grant chose to obey the law, not the commander in chief, establishing that in peacetime, congressional authority takes precedence.
—Kori Schake, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for precedence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precedence
priority
Noun
-
Shapiro, who was a finalist in Harris' search for a running mate in 2024, highlighted both his electability and his commitment to African American priorities while on stage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The five projects are part of the larger $4 billion Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative to advance 20 priority transportation projects across the state.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Precedence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precedence. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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