precedence

n 1: status established in order of importance or urgency:

"...its precedence as the world's leading manufacturer

of pharmaceuticals"; "national independence takes

priority over class struggle" [syn: {precedency}, {priority}]

2: preceding in time [syn: {priority}, {antecedence}, {antecedency},

{anteriority}] [ant: {posteriority}]

3: the act of preceding [syn: {precession}]