have/take precedence over

idiom

somewhat formal
: to be more important (than something else)
When it comes to making health care decisions, the patient's preference should take precedence.
often + over
The safety of the children has/takes precedence over everything else.

Examples of have/take precedence over in a Sentence

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.
The Pulitzer filing also raised constitutional concerns, citing the Supremacy Clause, which states that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over conflicting state laws. Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025 New success metrics, e.g., time spent, direct engagement, and share of conversation or influence, take precedence over vanity metrics like pageviews. Dan Gardner, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025 Stimulating and intellectual connections take precedence over romance, as this highlights the bold, quirkier side of love and relationships. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 Jan. 2025 On the one hand, a postapocalyptic world is so dangerous that survival must take precedence over kindness. Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for have/take precedence over 

Dictionary Entries Near have/take precedence over

Cite this Entry

“Have/take precedence over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%2Ftake%20precedence%20over. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!