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
-
have prioritizedperfect
-
has prioritizedperfect
-
am prioritizingprogressive
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are prioritizingprogressive
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is prioritizingprogressive
-
have been prioritizingperfect progressive
-
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:
While some stock pickers prioritize emotion over reason, many remain rooted in reality.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 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
That risk could intensify if power shortages force utilities to prioritize data centers, which require uninterrupted power, over steel mills, which can temporarily shut down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
That trust is built through a track record of decisions that prioritize things like player health.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
Foundations would be lobbied to prioritize criminal justice reform.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
“While direct-to-consumer platforms have increased patient access to GLP-1 receptor agonists, these findings suggest that some do so through impersonal care that prioritizes quick prescriptions over comprehensive care,” the researchers wrote.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
The strategy can appear somewhat random because it prioritizes gathering information over directly pursuing the answer.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026
The Department of Homeland Security said Trump also prioritizes immigration that strengthens the country financially, socially and culturally.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026
But in April the company said that facility is now on hold as it prioritizes other projects.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
Best For Anyone who prioritizes speed and streaming within a limited data budget.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 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
In addition to changing the lighting and painting the walls, Miranda-Martin prioritized the window treatments, with pinch pleat curtains from Ikea.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
French President Emmanuel Macron prioritized Ukraine discussions at the G-7 summit, leading to U.S. commitment for more air-defense capabilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
The team prioritized compounds predicted to selectively target cPLA2, enter the brain, and remain active under biologically relevant conditions.
From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026
As I had in the past, I completely compartmentalized my life and prioritized fencing above all else.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Morgan and Goldman Sachs, represented “confirmation that AI adoption and usage are rising and companies are prioritizing it to drive efficiencies and productivity.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
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
In an oversupplied market, data-center customers are likely to “shift from making purchase decisions based on what’s available to prioritizing the best technology,” according to RBC.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Although D-Wave’s latest quarterly revenue fell 81%, a spike in bookings indicates the company is prioritizing long-term backlog over immediate sales.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 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.
