prioritize
Americanverb (used with object)
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prioritizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prioritized,
past participle, past
-
prioritizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
prioritizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prioritized,
past participle, past
-
prioritizing
present participle
verb
-
to arrange (items to be attended to) in order of their relative importance
-
to give priority to or establish as a priority
Spelling
See -ize.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
prioritizesimple
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prioritizessimple
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have prioritizedperfect
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has prioritizedperfect
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am prioritizingprogressive
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are prioritizingprogressive
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is prioritizingprogressive
-
have been prioritizingperfect progressive
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has been prioritizingperfect progressive
Past
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prioritizedsimple
-
had prioritizedperfect
-
was prioritizingprogressive
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were prioritizingprogressive
-
had been prioritizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of prioritize
First recorded in 1965–70; priorit(y) + -ize
Explanation
Prioritize means to rank in order of importance. There are so many great clubs and activities to get involved in––you should be sure to prioritize the ones you like, or you'll get burned out. Prioritize can also mean to set something at the top of a ranking system. By prioritizing healthy eating and exercise, you can lose weight and stay in shape. In the same way, when something is a priority, it usually means it has a high priority, or as some like to say, "priority number one."
Vocabulary lists containing prioritize
President Obama's Farewell Address
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Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 71-80
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This Week in Words: January 20 - 26, 2018
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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.
See Examples For:
Among its most notable features is The Well Club at Miami Tropic, a dedicated wellness destination designed to help residents prioritize their physical health and recovery.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
But the Treasury noted Tuesday that the bank "failed to prioritize" compliance despite agreeing to the 2024 order.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
“Length, having a guy that can go two or three, is something where you essentially protect downside on the pitching,” Roberts said when asked what the Dodgers would prioritize.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
Schwartz said Wednesday that parents should prioritize receiving measles vaccines for their children amid current U.S. outbreaks, saying the shot is “absolutely safe, absolutely effective.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
I made a mental list of what I wanted to prioritize in my life—things like community service and charitable work were on the top.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
“Whether that comfort prioritizes scenic nature spots, access to multicultural experiences, or everyday affordability, places like Midland, Michigan, offer financial safety while still providing a good quality of life.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
When the investor raised his eyebrow and asked about a competitor with even higher returns, Stevens scoffed and said there was a small window to get into his fund, which he said prioritizes institutional investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
The idea was to embed prevention specialists within targeting teams and foster a culture that prioritizes civilian security in accordance with U.S. law and international rules of war.
From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026
"But this work demonstrates that recycling can work when society prioritizes sustainability."
From Science Daily ● Jun. 28, 2026
If anything, the movie could have used more of her, although it’s better overall that “Leviticus” prioritizes Naim and Ryan as queer protagonists caught in a chilling loop of escape and reunion.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
Japan has prioritized artificial intelligence infrastructure in a 15-year strategic investment plan.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026
To some, it’s a beacon of hope in the midst of an imperfect urban fabric that has long prioritized the fantastical.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Waldron and Solomon have prioritized the “One Goldman Sachs” strategy that they rolled out at the start of Solomon’s tenure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Scrolls found to contain lead could then be prioritized for CT scanning, potentially allowing many more texts to be recovered and building on the work of Seales and his collaborators.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026
For the first time at Duke, I prioritized my personal happiness.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
“This reflects a broader shift toward couples embracing alternatives to traditional wedding jewelry and prioritizing personal preferences over convention,” Skurnik said.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
Meanwhile, “Musk” was recently joined in theaters by Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning,” in which Jeremy Strong portrays Zuckerberg as a soulless ghoul prioritizing clicks over user safety.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
The researchers believe this reflects the brain's ability to adapt to stressful situations by prioritizing information that may be important.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
“Instead of focusing on homeownership, many are prioritizing financial freedom and debt-free living.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Human and animal foragers are constantly prioritizing and making effort-allocation decisions, even if only unconsciously.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
