has priority over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'has priority over' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that is considered more important or higher in priority than something else. For example: "Due to the importance of this issue, it has priority over all other tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

And an obligation has priority over an option.

The Guardian

Even a golf bag has priority over the caddie when it comes to staying dry.

The New York Times - Sports

"There will be quite a lot of people who would think defence has priority over overseas aid".

Independent

Although a lender's first mortgage has priority over the condo's common charges, he said, the condo should file its lien and start its own foreclosure action immediately.

The New York Times

But he added that in a foreclosure, the lien held by a mortgage lender has priority over a lien for common charges.

The New York Times

While both forms of stock represent shares of ownership in a company, preferred stock usually has priority over common stock with respect to earnings and claims on assets in the event of liquidation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Airlines' own customers invariably have priority over members of partner airlines' programs.

The New York Times

miles is a national park, where animals have priority over human beings.

The New Yorker

Rousseau built his case for the superiority of Italian music over French on the principle that melody must have priority over harmony, whereas Rameau based his on the assertion that harmony must have priority over melody.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Jenni had devised the system of symbols to avoid giving the sense that one group had priority over another.

The New Yorker

Chores and schoolwork had priority over everything else in the Anderson household, and Myers never wanted to hear any excuses.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has priority over" to clearly establish the order of importance between two or more items or actions, ensuring your reader understands which is more crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "has priority over" when the items being compared are not directly competing for resources or attention. Ensure there is a clear reason why one should take precedence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has priority over" functions as a prepositional phrase that indicates a hierarchical relationship, where one entity or action is deemed more important or urgent than another. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has priority over" is a versatile prepositional phrase used to clearly establish precedence. Grammatically sound and deemed correct by Ludwig AI, it's frequently employed in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts to guide decisions and resource allocation. While alternatives like "takes precedence over" or "is more important than" exist, "has priority over" effectively communicates a hierarchical relationship and is critical for conveying clear instructions and expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

takes precedence over

This alternative uses 'precedence' emphasizing a formal order of importance.

is the chief priority relative to

Specifies that something holds the highest level of priority in comparison.

is more important than

A straightforward way to express higher importance without using the term 'priority'.

is of greater importance than

A more formal and emphatic version of 'is more important than'.

is paramount to

Indicates that something is of utmost importance and takes precedence.

supersedes

This implies a direct replacement or overriding of one thing by another.

carries more weight than

This alternative uses a metaphorical expression indicating greater influence or significance.

outranks

Suggests a hierarchical structure where one element is superior in rank or status.

is the primary concern over

This highlights something as the main focus compared to other considerations.

trumps

Informal alternative meaning to override or surpass.

FAQs

How can I use "has priority over" in a sentence?

Use "has priority over" to show that something is more important or needs to be done before something else. For example, "Resuscitating the patient "has priority over" advanced diagnostic procedures."

What are some alternatives to "has priority over"?

You can use alternatives such as "takes precedence over", "is more important than", or "supersedes" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "have priority over" instead of "has priority over"?

"Has priority over" is used with singular nouns or pronouns (e.g., "the project has priority"), while "have priority over" is used with plural nouns or pronouns (e.g., "these tasks have priority").

What's the difference between "has priority over" and "takes precedence over"?

While both phrases indicate higher importance, "takes precedence over" often implies a more formal or official order of importance, whereas "has priority over" can be used in more general contexts.