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

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

But you should prioritize paying down your credit-card bill for a couple of reasons.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

The fitness industry will likely continue to capitalize on consumers’ behavioral shifts to prioritize health, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Operators also are likely to prioritize restoring existing fields instead of new developments, creating demand for contractors and equipment makers, “especially those with regional experience and existing agreements with national oil companies,” the analysts said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 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

Related Words

• compute
• register
• set up