take priority over

USAGE SUMMARY

'take priority over' is a valid and commonly-used English phrase.
You can use it when you want to demonstrate that one thing is more important than another and should be treated as such. For example: "Organizing the company records should take priority over scheduling new meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

First, roads should take priority over rail.

The Economist

GSB students take priority over non-GSB students.

Stanford University

Paid work could take priority over other very important crime.

The Guardian

Halting the bloodshed must take priority over apportioning blame.

The New York Times

They are everywhere and take priority over pedestrians.

The Guardian

The government's claims take priority over everyone else.

The Washington Post

It says fixing Egypt's ailing economy should take priority over promoting Islamic mores.

The Economist

Some creditors take priority over others, so tax, for instance, will be paid before wages.

Independent

Family barbeques and water sports take priority over political news in the summer months.

The Economist

(And it is not necessarily wrong for concerns about openness to take priority over science).

The New Yorker

All of a sudden, food and coffee will start to take priority over your essays.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take priority over", ensure the context clearly indicates which element is more important and why. For example, "In project management, meeting deadlines should take priority over excessive documentation."

Common error

Avoid using reflexive pronouns unnecessarily with "take priority over". For example, it's incorrect to say "The project should take itself priority over other tasks". The correct usage is "The project should take priority over other tasks."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take priority over" functions as a verb phrase indicating that one element is considered more important or deserving of attention than another. It reflects a decision-making process where precedence is given, aligning with Ludwig's examples showcasing prioritization across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

12%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "take priority over" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that one thing is more important than another. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts, primarily in news, media, science, and academia. While "take priority over" is versatile, alternatives such as "take precedence over" may be more suitable for formal settings. Remember to avoid common errors like unnecessary reflexive pronouns. Effectively using this phrase involves clearly stating which element is prioritized and providing a justification for that decision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take precedence over

This phrase is a more formal synonym, often used in legal or official contexts.

rank higher than

This alternative directly speaks about a scale of importance.

come before

This is a simpler, more direct way of saying something is more important in terms of sequence or attention.

supersede

This single word implies replacing something, suggesting a higher level of authority than simply prioritizing.

be paramount to

This indicates something is of utmost importance, surpassing other considerations.

outweigh

This suggests that the importance or impact of one thing is greater than another.

be superior to

This phrase indicate a better quality, or a greater importance.

override

This term conveys a sense of dominance, indicating that one thing cancels out or nullifies another.

take the lead over

This shows the act of becoming first or more important in a specific situation.

have the edge over

This phrase suggest a slight advantage rather than strict prioritization.

FAQs

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

Use "take priority over" to indicate that one thing is more important than another. For example, "Customer satisfaction should take priority over short-term profits".

What are some alternatives to "take priority over"?

You can use alternatives like "take precedence over", "outweigh", or "come before" depending on the context.

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

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but "has priority over" often describes a state, while "take priority over" describes an action or decision to prioritize.

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

While both phrases are very similar, "take precedence over" often implies a more formal or official ranking, while "take priority over" can be used in more general contexts.