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
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
prioritizesimple
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prioritizessimple
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have prioritizedperfect
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has prioritizedperfect
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am prioritizingprogressive
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are prioritizingprogressive
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is prioritizingprogressive
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have been prioritizingperfect progressive
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has been prioritizingperfect progressive
Past
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prioritizedsimple
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had prioritizedperfect
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was prioritizingprogressive
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were prioritizingprogressive
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had been prioritizingperfect progressive
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.
The general approach is to minimize processed carbohydrates, prioritize fiber-rich foods, and anchor meals in high-quality proteins.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 21, 2026
And prioritize those ingredients you already have in your pantry and fridge.
From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026
Benchmark analyst Michael Albanese wrote Wednesday that the better-than-expected quarterly results were driven by a “deliberate shift” to prioritize volume at the expense of gross profit per unit.
From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026
Club member Darius Ingram, father of 3-year-old daughter, says that reconnecting with the game has allowed him to prioritize his own well-being.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 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.
