prioritize

American  

[prahy-awr-i-tahyz, -or-] / praɪˈɔr ɪˌtaɪz, -ˈɒr- /

especially British, prioritise

verb (used with object)

• prioritizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• prioritized,
  past participle,  past
• prioritizing
  present participle

1. to arrange or do in order of priority.

   learning to prioritize our assignments.

2. to give a high priority to.

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verb (used without object)

• prioritizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• prioritized,
  past participle,  past
• prioritizing
  present participle

1. to organize or deal with something according to its priority.

prioritize British  

/ praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz /

verb

1. to arrange (items to be attended to) in order of their relative importance

2. to give priority to or establish as a priority

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Spelling

See -ize.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prioritization
  noun
• reprioritization
  noun
• reprioritize
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Participles

• prioritizing
  present
• prioritized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• prioritize
  simple
• prioritizes
  simple
• have prioritized
  perfect
• has prioritized
  perfect
• am prioritizing
  progressive
• are prioritizing
  progressive
• is prioritizing
  progressive
• have been prioritizing
  perfect progressive
• has been prioritizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• prioritized
  simple
• had prioritized
  perfect
• was prioritizing
  progressive
• were prioritizing
  progressive
• had been prioritizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will prioritize
  simple
• will have prioritized
  perfect
• will be prioritizing
  progressive
• will have been prioritizing
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prioritize prioritizes prioritized prioritizing

Meanwhile, Target faced skepticism over its turnaround efforts, as consumers prioritize basic essentials over clothing and home decor.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 16, 2026

Another 15,000 were given to HSI’s cross-border financial crimes unit, which was told to prioritize them over money laundering and fraud cases, a former high-level HSI official said.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

The World Bank said Friday it was disbursing $200 million in emergency funds for the disaster response, as well as a mechanism to assess economic losses to help "prioritize aid and reconstruction efforts."

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

SanDisk says it plans to prioritize more reliable, high-volume business while focusing on strategic customers that value its products.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

We decided to prioritize resentencing hearings in Louisiana for the “old-timers,” juvenile lifers who had been there for decades.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

“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 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

“Apple prioritizes protecting gross profit dollar growth—rather than gross margins—on iPhones to limit demand elasticity on its core hardware product while also supporting installed base expansion,” he said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 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

The AGs instead lean on public statements by Meta executives saying the company prioritized youth safety, which allegedly are in conflict with platform features that keep young people scrolling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

“The President wants the United States to be treated fairly and he has prioritized using foreign policy to enhance domestic economic prosperity.”

From Slate ● Jul. 22, 2026

In past Octobers, the Dodgers have prioritized defense at catcher.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2026

“In the balance of trying to consider industry and economy, and also trying to consider the environment, the scales tilted way too far to the point where industry is prioritized over people,” Parker said.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

For the first time at Duke, I prioritized my personal happiness.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Wilson, whose last error occurred July 6, 2025, credits his dad with prioritizing defense.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Brazil's representative made a similar note, saying "the organization must play a constructive role, prioritizing the opening of channels for negotiation."

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

As vendors offer more AI-powered workflows and customers spend more on AI capabilities, both are prioritizing return on investment.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

Additionally, Meta’s commentary on prioritizing selling AI over computing power is likely not sitting well with investors, Mahaney said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

It works out contingencies and relationships and sorts through the mountain of information we get from the outside world, prioritizing it and putting flags on things that demand our immediate attention.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• compute
• register
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