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)
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prioritizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
prioritized,
past participle, past
-
prioritizing
present participle
verb
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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
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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
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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:
There will be fighting about where to start and what to prioritize, and there will be massive intracoalition differences of opinion about what major structural reform looks like.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026
The bill’s supporters said judges should prioritize public safety when deciding whether to release defendants.
From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026
When automakers commit to U.S. production, they typically prioritize full-size SUVs, trucks, and premium vehicles that tend to be more profitable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
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
Foundations would be lobbied to prioritize criminal justice reform.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
"The ventral hippocampus may be part of a system that prioritizes a rapid 'better safe than sorry' response," said Rozeske.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2026
Total financial obligations have fallen by $9.3 billion, or 20% over the period, as the company prioritizes its balance sheet, he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
“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
“Their skin care prioritizes overall health, if that makes sense,” Sarah Draves, 27, said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 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
WSJ | Buy Side: To find the best balance-transfer cards, we prioritized factors that matter most: a long time to pay down your debt and low fees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
Japan has prioritized artificial intelligence infrastructure in a 15-year strategic investment plan.
From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2026
Newsom said in his veto message Wednesday that his administration has worked to address wrongs committed against tribes and has prioritized respectful “government-to-government dialogue.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 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
Ugarte said he has never met with Airbnb officials but would take a call from any group to figure out what is going to best benefit South L.A., including prioritizing protecting renters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026
“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
“We remain focused on delivering customer value in a fully self-funded way, prioritizing high-return investments and disciplined cost savings so we can expand margins over time while continuing to invest in growth.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 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
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.
