prioritize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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
-
prioritizessimple
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have prioritizedperfect
-
has prioritizedperfect
-
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
-
prioritizedsimple
-
had prioritizedperfect
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was prioritizingprogressive
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were prioritizingprogressive
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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:
That allows clients to prioritize stocks that align with their values, Green said.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
With the hotel motto being “stay by your own rules,” Rudolph says it was important for them to make the rooms adaptable to each guest’s needs and to prioritize comfort.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
That means the chatbot is under no obligation to prioritize the user’s interests over its own.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Warsh is expected to use the event to build support for his plans to reduce forward guidance and prioritize taming inflation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Her choice to prioritize family life did nothing to dampen her parents’ pride in her academic achievements.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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
She now plays for a team that prioritizes maternal support.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
The strategy can appear somewhat random because it prioritizes gathering information over directly pursuing the answer.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026
A more conservative allocation, such as 40% stocks and 60% bonds, generally prioritizes capital preservation over growth.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 8, 2026
But in April the company said that facility is now on hold as it prioritizes other projects.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
But in the past few decades, private pensions have all but disappeared, and many workers are not saving enough for retirement — either because they can’t afford to or because they haven’t prioritized it.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
He explained that, in some ways, this change is a throwback to the roadside dining culture that existed in the U.S. before the Interstate Highway System, which prioritized convenience over caliber.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 6, 2026
"We prioritized a lightweight, compact molecule design," Nguyen said.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2026
Certain nutrients and so-called superfoods were never meant to be heavily prioritized at the expense of other beneficial ingredients.
From Salon ● May 7, 2026
As I had in the past, I completely compartmentalized my life and prioritized fencing above all else.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Taken together, Blanche’s actions over the past 12 months make abundantly clear that he’s prioritizing the president’s agenda.
From Slate ● Jul. 9, 2026
The exits and other uncertainty have led to insurers’ prioritizing stable profit margins and seeking higher rates, said Jeremy Kush, a consulting actuary at Milliman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Tech companies have been citing various reasons for layoffs including prioritizing investments in artificial intelligence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
“What is becoming clear is that we have to pay a price for uncertainty, shifting from ‘just-in-time’ to ‘just-in-case’ supply chains, and prioritizing resilience over cost efficiency.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
Her brother talking about prioritizing his own interests over hers wasn’t that different from her prioritizing Mr. Griswold’s game over the cipher challenge.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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.
