have priority over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have priority over' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that one action or choice is more important than another action or choice. For example: "I need to finish my report by tomorrow, so that task will have priority over any other work I need to do today."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Groups have priority over individual users.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We designed scroll enable to have priority over move enable.

Cornell University

Cooking club meetings have priority over all other engagements.

The New York Times - Food

In over-enrolled courses, Columbia degree candidates have priority over non-degree students.

Columbia University

In over-enrolled courses, Columbia degree candidates often have priority over non-degree students.

Columbia University

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

Groups of 2 or more have priority over individual users – individual users can be "bumped" for group use.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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

Cuba is also heavily dependent.If Venezuela were to start being less generous, some countries would have priority over others.

The Economist

The company said owners would have priority over vehicles on showroom lots, although dealers may begin repairing those, too.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing similar tasks, it's wise to remember that not everything can "have priority over" the rest. Limit such high-priority items only to those with real impact and urgency.

Common error

Avoid overusing "have priority over" in your writing. Excessive use can make your text sound repetitive and less impactful. Vary your language by using synonyms like "take precedence over" or "outweigh" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have priority over" functions as a verb phrase indicating that one thing is considered more important or urgent than another. As Ludwig AI explains, it's used to show precedence or preference in various situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

28%

Academia

28%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have priority over" is a versatile expression used to establish precedence or importance. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and common usage across diverse contexts underscore its reliability in written English. While its register varies from neutral to professional, depending on the context, it is essential to consider alternative phrasings like "take precedence over" to avoid overuse. With diverse examples from reputable sources like The New York Times, usage in academic, news, and scientific domains, demonstrates its broad applicability, making it a useful tool for writers aiming to convey order and significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take precedence over

Replaces "have priority" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of superseding.

outweigh

Implies a heavier influence or importance, suggesting a significant difference in value or impact.

supersede

Indicates a displacement or replacement, often in a formal or legal context.

take precedence above

Similar to "take precedence over", but emphasizes a hierarchical structure.

rank higher than

Focuses on the relative ranking or position of importance.

hold a higher rank than

Similar to "rank higher than", but includes the concept of maintaining that higher position.

carry more weight than

Emphasizes the influence or importance that one thing has compared to another.

be superior to

Suggests a higher quality or importance, implying a significant difference in value.

trump

An informal and forceful way of saying something overrules or defeats something else.

override

Indicates a decision or action that cancels or negates a previous one.

FAQs

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

Use "have priority over" to indicate that something is more important or urgent than something else. For example, "Meeting the deadline for the project should "take precedence over" other tasks."

What is a formal alternative to "have priority over"?

A more formal alternative is "take precedence over". This phrase is suitable for professional or academic writing.

Which is correct, "has priority over" or "have priority over"?

"Have priority over" is correct when referring to a plural subject or using the pronouns I, you, we, or they. "Has priority over" is used with singular subjects such as he, she, or it. For example, "They "take precedence over" us."

What's the difference between "have priority over" and "is more important than"?

While both phrases convey relative importance, "have priority over" implies a formal or established order, such as in project management or legal contexts. "Is more important than" is a more general expression of relative importance, such as "Family is more important than work."