This is the 2059th most frequent Japanese word.
先行
"Precedence" or "prioritization" often implying something that goes ahead or takes the lead.
'先行' in this sentence means 'to precede' or 'to take the lead in time' relative to the market.
新しい製品の開発は常に市場に先行しています。
The development of new products always precedes the market.
Here, '先行' signifies 'to be prioritized' or 'to come first' in importance or sequence, such as theoretical learning being undertaken before practical applications.
大学では理論学習が実践よりも先行される場合があります。
In university, theoretical learning is sometimes prioritized over practice.
In this context, '先行' refers to 'preliminary' or 'initial' activity, set as groundwork for subsequent actions.