precedence

/ˈpresɪdəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpresɪdəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpre-sə-dən(t)s pri-ˈsē-dᵊn(t)s/ (ame, mw)

precedence — noun

1. a state where one need, rule, or plan is treated as more important and is dealt

1.名詞C1
釋義

a state where one need, rule, or plan is treated as more important and is dealt with before others.

例句

Safety takes precedence over speed on this building site.

take precedence over + noun

When money was short, Mia gave precedence to rent over new clothes.

give precedence to + need

同義詞
  • priority

    the everyday word for something that should come first

  • importance

    broader and does not always suggest being handled first

  • primacy

    more abstract and often used for a leading principle or value

文法句型

take precedence over something

have precedence over something

give precedence to something

用法筆記

Usually followed by "over" and often used with abstract nouns such as safety, law, need, or cost. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about the ranking of people in formal settings rather than the priority of actions or rules.

常見錯誤

❌Safety has precedence than speed.
✅Safety has precedence over speed.
💡the usual pattern is 'precedence over', not 'precedence than'.

2. the arranged ranking that shows which people in a group should come ahead of oth

2.名詞C2
釋義

the arranged ranking that shows which people in a group should come ahead of others at a formal event or within an organization.

例句

Before the state dinner, staff checked the precedence of foreign guests.

precedence of + group

In the parade, local judges had precedence over club leaders.

have precedence over + people

同義詞
  • rank

    a broader word for place in a system or list

  • seniority

    stresses longer service or higher position, especially at work

  • standing

    suggests social or official position more generally

文法句型

the order of precedence

have precedence over someone

precedence among officials or family members

用法筆記

Most common in government, religious, military, and ceremonial contexts. Distinguish from sense 1, which usually compares needs, rules, or plans rather than deciding which people should be placed first.

常見錯誤

❌At the dinner, teachers had priority of students.
✅At the dinner, teachers had precedence over students.
💡this sense uses 'precedence over' for formal ranking between people.