priority
Americannoun
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the state or quality of being earlier in time, occurrence, etc.
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the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege, etc.; precedence.
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the right to take precedence in obtaining certain supplies, services, facilities, etc., especially during a shortage.
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something given special attention.
adjective
noun
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the condition of being prior; antecedence; precedence
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the right of precedence over others
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something given specified attention
my first priority
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of priority
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French priorite, from Medieval Latin priōritās; see prior 1, -ity
Explanation
When a group or a person cares about one thing over all others, that’s the top priority. “After the flood, finding a place to live became their first priority.” Priority comes from the word prior, which means to come before something else. A priority is the concern, interest or desire that comes before all others. “His first priority was to establish his career and get married later.” “When seeking the perfect wave, Jeff and Wayne made it their priority to be the first surfers on the beach.” "The new CEO's top priority was firing her predecessor's hires."
Vocabulary lists containing priority
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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List 8
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Bush's Address on 9/11
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For Warsh, this may not be such a high priority, prompting speculation about what message, if any, he wants to send.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026
With populations aging and dementia-related deaths continuing to rise, researchers say the search for effective treatments that can slow or prevent cognitive decline remains an urgent priority.
From Science Daily • Jun. 16, 2026
She emphasised her priority was her members, not political manoeuvring.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
OTTAWA—Canada’s priority in trade talks with Washington is to seek relief from hefty U.S. tariffs on key industrial sectors like steel, aluminum and automobiles, the country’s ambassador to the U.S. told a Toronto audience.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026
“One leaf could kill every person in the Collective. I thought you might find it a priority to eradicate it,” I say.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
