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.
Given your substantial Roth holdings, you don’t need to prioritize additional Roth contributions or conversions.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026
This activity is believed to be aimed at shaping the data used to train future AI systems, potentially influencing how those systems behave and what information they prioritize.
From Science Daily • Apr. 20, 2026
That might make some Latin acts prioritize other regions.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
Bank of Korea Governor nominee Shin Hyun-song said he would prioritize price stability amid uncertainty from the Middle East conflict.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026
Foundations would be lobbied to prioritize criminal justice reform.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
