have priority

phrase

: to require being dealt with or done first : to be more important (than something else)
The house needs lots of work but getting my debts paid has priority.
—often + over
Health concerns should have priority over comfort.

Examples of have priority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If Castro were arrested, the government that first obtained custody would generally have priority, although federal and state authorities could arrange for him to be transferred temporarily to face charges in the other jurisdiction. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 American companies will have priority access to supply nuclear reactors and fuel to the Saudi nuclear energy program, according to an administration memo about the agreement seen by NPR. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 July 2026 During the application window, families who earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level have priority. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026 The athletic department announced that season ticket holders from 2023-25 will have priority access to seat selection at the new stadium. — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for have priority

Rhymes for have priority

See All Rhymes for have priority

Browse Nearby Words

have over
have priority
have/put one's hands in the till
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Have priority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20priority. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All