variants
also peck order
as in hierarchy
the way in which people or things in a group or organization are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status
As an assistant manager, he was pretty low in the company's pecking order.
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Recent Examples of pecking order
Huard is likely to step in initially as the third quarterback in USC’s pecking order at the position, with a chance to earn the backup role behind presumptive starter Jayden Maiava.
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Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
With each loss in what would be a 5-12 train wreck, the last-place Bolts were plummeting on the pecking order in L.A. sports and something significant was needed.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Even 16-year-old academy talent Toni Fernandez has been ahead of him in the pecking order, making it to the bench for both Supercopa de Espana matches in Saudi Arabia last week.
—Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Huard is likely to step in initially as the third quarterback in USC’s pecking order at the position, with a chance to earn the backup role behind presumptive starter Jayden Maiava.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pecking order 
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2025
With each loss in what would be a 5-12 train wreck, the last-place Bolts were plummeting on the pecking order in L.A. sports and something significant was needed.
—Jay Paris, Forbes, 3 Jan. 2025
Even 16-year-old academy talent Toni Fernandez has been ahead of him in the pecking order, making it to the bench for both Supercopa de Espana matches in Saudi Arabia last week.
—Pol Ballús, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Advertisement Huard is likely to step in initially as the third quarterback in USC’s pecking order at the position, with a chance to earn the backup role behind presumptive starter Jayden Maiava.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pecking order
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Cite this Entry
“Pecking order.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pecking%20order. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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