Webster's English Dictionary

Enter the word to look up:

precedence

pre.ce.dence \'pres-*d-*n(t)s, pri-'se-d-*n(t)s\ n obs  1a: ANTECEDENT  1b: 
   the fact of preceding in time  2: PRIORITY, PREFERENCE :  2a: the right to 
   superior honor on a ceremonial or formal occasion  2b: the order of 
   ceremonial or formal preference