precedence

Compared meaning: the right to come or be dealt with first (noun).

比较义项：优先事项／优先权（名词）。

• priority

  Refers to the specific thing that is treated as most important; used as a countable noun (a priority, top priority, priorities), often listed or ranked.

  指被视为最重要的那件具体事情；用作可数名词（a priority、top priority、priorities），常被列出或排序。

  Finishing the project on time is our top priority this week.

  按时完成这个项目是我们这周的首要任务。

• precedence 本词

  Refers to the abstract right or status of coming before something else in importance; almost always used in the fixed phrase 'take precedence over', rarely pluralized or listed.

  指在重要性上先于其他事物的抽象权利或地位；几乎总是用在固定搭配 take precedence over 中，很少复数或被列举。

  Safety always takes precedence over speed in this factory.

  在这家工厂，安全总是优先于速度。

Both words mean being treated as more important than other things. Priority names the specific thing that comes first; it is countable, as in 'a priority' or 'top priority'. Precedence names the right to come before something else, used mainly in 'take precedence over'.

这两个词都表示“比其他事情更重要、应先处理”，但 priority 指的是那件被排在前面的具体事情或权利本身，常作可数名词使用（a priority / top priority）；precedence 则更强调“优先于他人或他事”的抽象地位，几乎总是出现在 take precedence over 这个固定搭配里，很少单独作可数名词使用。