prioritize

American  

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

especially British, prioritise

verb (used with object)

prioritized, prioritizing

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)

prioritized, prioritizing

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

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

Etymology

Origin of prioritize

First recorded in 1965–70; priorit(y) + -ize

Example Sentences

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

Over the medium term, the recent energy shock and heightened geopolitical uncertainty are likely to push more countries to prioritize energy security—a pivot that plays to Beijing’s strengths.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Research and polling suggests Latino voters prioritize cost-of-living issues — such as housing, wages and inflation — over immigration, a topic often emphasized in national messaging.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2026

While both providers can bypass geo-restrictions and deliver HD content, Surfshark’s faster speeds, unlimited device support and broad Netflix compatibility give it an edge for users who prioritize high-resolution streaming across multiple devices.

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

I’ve been trying to prioritize everything left to do.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Related Words

• compute
• register
• set up