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
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have prioritizedperfect
-
are prioritizingprogressive
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has prioritizedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have been prioritizingperfect progressive
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prioritizingparticiple
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prioritizessingular 3rd person
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has been prioritizingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is prioritizingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am prioritizingprogressive 1st person singular
Past
-
had prioritizedperfect
-
prioritizedparticiple
-
was prioritizingprogressive singular
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were prioritizingprogressive plural
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had been prioritizingperfect progressive
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prioritizedsimple
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.
WSJ | Buy Side: The best dad shoes prioritize comfort and practicality without compromising style.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
Cepeda, who helped negotiate the 2016 peace deal and design Petro's "total peace" strategy, has vowed to prioritize dialogue and social upliftment in rebel-held areas.
From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026
Far from abusing the courts with frivolous appeals, the exonerees we interviewed described being thwarted at every attempt due to appellate and postconviction processes that prioritize procedural regularity over the substance of their innocence claims.
From Slate • May 29, 2026
“I’ve been lucky enough to have a front-row seat to good ownership in my career, and I know the best teams prioritize culture,” Kelce said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 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
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.
