to have priority over

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to have priority over" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the importance or precedence of one thing over another in various contexts, such as decision-making or resource allocation. Example: "In this project, safety must have priority over speed to ensure the well-being of all team members."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

We designed scroll enable to have priority over move enable.

Cornell University

M. HERZOG: And when you failed, did the orders that were sent to you by Defendant Speer have to have priority over all others?

Yale University

For mortgages with second liens, the government could request a blanket approval from all servicers to allow the new mortgages to have priority over existing second ones.

The New York Times

Amtrak is supposed to have priority over freight trains, but if any of the freight trains or the Coast Starlight has a problem, the schedule can fall apart.

The New York Times - Travel

Sek Sitha, an under secretary of state for the land management ministry, said the restriction was included because the government wants "Cambodians to have priority over foreigners".

The New York Times

In this sense, for such deontologists, the Right is said to have priority over the Good.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The Los Angeles schools superintendent is standing by a decision that allows recently laid-off teachers to have priority for substituting jobs over veteran subs with more seniority, reports the Los Angeles Times, which puts substitutes' health benefits at risk.

Huffington Post

Should a wheelchair user who wants to travel by bus have priority over a child in a pushchair?

The Guardian - Opinion

"They even said if a 55-year-old able-bodied person were to bid, they would have priority over me.

The Guardian

Three appeal judges are being asked by a bus operator to decide whether wheelchair passengers should have priority over all other passengers to use the space as a matter of law.

The Guardian

Normally, most of the money recovered in such cases goes either to the government in the form of a penalty or to the debt holders, who have priority over shareholders in Chapter 11 proceedings.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to have priority over", clearly define both elements being compared to avoid ambiguity. For example, 'In project management, task completion should "to have priority over" aesthetic enhancements to meet deadlines effectively'.

Common error

Avoid assuming that something always "to have priority over" something else. Priority is often context-dependent, so make sure to consider situational factors. For example, while safety generally "to have priority over" cost, there might be very specific situations where a minimal, temporary cost overrun is acceptable to prevent an immediate safety hazard.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to have priority over" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the precedence or superior importance of one item, task, or consideration relative to another. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Academia

30%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to have priority over" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that something is more important than something else. According to Ludwig AI, it is widely applicable in various contexts, especially in academia, news, and science. While alternatives such as ""take precedence over"" and "outweigh" exist, "to have priority over" clearly conveys a hierarchical relationship. When using this phrase, be sure to specify the context for clarity and avoid assuming that priorities are always fixed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

To take priority over

A slight grammatical variation, where 'take' replaces 'have', maintaining the same meaning.

To take precedence over

Indicates a formal order of importance, similar to "to have priority over" but emphasizes official ranking.

To be given preference over

Highlights the act of choosing one thing over another, implying a decision was made.

To be more important than

A direct and simple way to express higher value or significance.

To be paramount

Signifies ultimate importance or being above all else.

To supersede

Implies replacing something in importance or effectiveness; stronger than just having priority.

To rank higher than

Specifies placement in an ordered list or hierarchy.

To outweigh

Suggests greater importance or influence, often in a balanced comparison.

To override

Indicates dominance and control, pushing aside something else.

To have the upper hand over

Suggests a position of advantage or control in a competitive situation.

FAQs

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

Use "to have priority over" to indicate that one thing is more important or should be dealt with before another. For example: "In this emergency, saving lives must "take precedence over" property protection".

What are some alternatives to "to have priority over"?

Alternatives include phrases like ""take precedence over"", "outweigh", or "be more important than", each carrying slightly different nuances.

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

Yes, "take priority over" is a grammatically correct and commonly used alternative to "to have priority over", carrying the same core meaning.

What's the difference between "to have priority over" and "to be preferred over"?

"To have priority over" suggests a formal ranking or order of importance, while "to be preferred over" implies a choice based on subjective criteria or personal inclination. So, something might "to have priority over" something else in a formal sense, but someone might still prefer the latter for other reasons.