prioritize
Americanverb
-
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
- prioritization noun
- reprioritization noun
- reprioritize verb (used with object)
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.
Goldman Sachs believes this could lead to margin compression as consumers look for lower-priced units and could also result in volume declines as “manufacturers prioritize fewer consumer electronic shipments.”
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
“We are deeply concerned by indications of support for this merger that prioritize the interests of a small group of powerful stakeholders over the broader public good,” the letter said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
They help forecast demand, optimize planting, prioritize shipments, and manage inventory.
From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026
Instead, it warns that the growing use of algorithmic tools to analyze workers’ personal data can enable pay practices that prioritize cost-cutting over transparency or fairness.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
The decision to prioritize a victory in space over problems on Earth was the most widespread criticism against the space program.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
