1. (

• precedence ,
• precedency ,
• priority

) status established in order of importance or urgency; "...its precedence as the world's leading manufacturer of pharmaceuticals"; "national independence takes priority over class struggle" ;

2. (

• priority ,
• antecedence ,
• antecedency ,
• anteriority ,
• precedence ,
• precedency

) preceding in time ;

3. (

• precession ,
• precedence ,
• precedency

) the act of preceding in time or order or rank (as in a ceremony) ;