Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The fact, state, or right of coming before in time, order, or position.
  • noun Priority claimed or received because of greater importance.
  • noun A ceremonial order of rank or preference, especially as observed on formal occasions.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The act of going before; specifically, the right of preceding others in public or private ceremonies; the right to a more honorable place in public processions or assemblies, or in the formalities of social life; social superiority; advantage in rank. In many countries precedence is a matter of strict regulation. See order of precedence, below.
  • noun Prior place; superior position; position indicative of superior rank.
  • noun Previous occurrence, or existence before; priority in time.
  • noun That which goes before; a preceding act or speech.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The act or state of preceding or going before in order of time; priority.
  • noun The act or state of going or being before in rank or dignity, or the place of honor; right to a more honorable place; superior rank.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of preceding in importance or priority.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun status established in order of importance or urgency
  • noun the act of preceding in time or order or rank (as in a ceremony)
  • noun preceding in time

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • Nations confront the problematic tension between giving their – people-citizens-however you want to call it – a certain precedence, which is deeply embedded in the very idea of the nation-state however un-P.C. it sounds, while not sacrificing their broader humanity regarding the world.

    Matthew Yglesias » But Is Nothing The Alternative? 2007

  • The only time the right-wing nutjobs honor precedence is when their idealogues on the court use it to their favorite flavor of outrage.

    New Haven firefighter blasts Sotomayor for ruling 'along racial lines' 2009

  • While the wealthy sportsman was the original English motorist, it was not until Edward VII took up motoring (with relish) that the motorcar began to gain precedence over the horse and carriage with the Marlborough House Set.

    The Motorcar | Edwardian Promenade 2008

  • «sleeping-sickness» takes precedence from the medical point of view.

    Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1907 - Presentation Speech 1967

  • Hence the Prosodists distinguish between Ajzá aslíyah or primary feet (from Asl, root), in which this precedence is observed, and Ájzá far’íyah or secondary feet (from

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • The seven exhortations of this pirate ` s code ascend in precedence.

    I, Pirate … 2009

  • Courtenay and Lady Beaulyon took place, as to whether 'Maryllia Van' in her professed detestation of Lord Roxmouth, would forget etiquette and the rule of 'precedence' -- but they soon saw she did not intend to so commit herself.

    God's Good Man Marie Corelli 1889

  • Courtenay and Lady Beaulyon took place, as to whether 'Maryllia Van' in her professed detestation of Lord Roxmouth, would forget etiquette and the rule of 'precedence' -- but they soon saw she did not intend to so commit herself.

    God's Good Man Marie Corelli 1889

  • Courtenay and Lady Beaulyon took place, as to whether 'Maryllia Van' in her professed detestation of Lord Roxmouth, would forget etiquette and the rule of 'precedence' -- but they soon saw she did not intend to so commit herself.

    God's Good Man Marie Corelli 1889

  • Normally the whole "inner turmoil" aspect of John Lennon takes John Lennon facial-expression precedence over happiness.

    NOGOODFORME.COM 2010

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