Definition of PRECEDENCE (original) (raw)
1
a
: priority of importance
your safety takes precedence
b
: the right to superior honor on a ceremonial or formal occasion
c
: the order of ceremonial or formal preference
2
a
: the fact of coming or occurring earlier in time
Synonyms
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 on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As the president-elect and his team evaluated their priorities, concerns about the federal budget deficit and rising inflation took precedence over his campaign promise on health insurance. —Guian McKee / Made By History, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024 Listening 'Machines' Introverted CEOs excel in one-on-one interactions, where listening takes precedence over speaking. —Vital Laptenok, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 Macron hinted that similar policies could resume but stressed reconstruction efforts would take precedence. —Sam Mednick and Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Dec. 2024 Cincinnati’s first Christmas The founding of Cincinnati took precedence over merrymaking as well. —Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precedence 
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b
Time Traveler
The first known use of precedence was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near precedence
Cite this Entry
“Precedence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/precedence. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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Last Updated: 7 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences
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