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.
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
“We have to prioritize our investments, and prioritizing them in local water makes the most sense,” said Bruce Reznik, executive director of the group Los Angeles Waterkeeper.
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026
In other remarks, he emphasized what he called “lethality over likability,” arguing that military leadership must prioritize combat readiness and battlefield effectiveness over cultural or institutional concerns.
From Salon • May 24, 2026
But some lifeless specimens have slipped into the language, among them colorize, prioritize, and finalize, and they’re probably going to be around for a while.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
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.
