priority

American  

[prahy-awr-i-tee, -or-] / praɪˈɔr ɪ ti, -ˈɒr- /

noun

• priorities
  plural

1. the state or quality of being earlier in time, occurrence, etc.

2. the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege, etc.; precedence.

3. the right to take precedence in obtaining certain supplies, services, facilities, etc., especially during a shortage.

4. something given special attention.

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adjective

1. highest or higher in importance, rank, privilege, etc..

   a priority task.

priority British  

/ praɪˈɒrɪtɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being prior; antecedence; precedence

2. the right of precedence over others

3. something given specified attention

   my first priority

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonpriority
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• priorities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of priority

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French priorite, from Medieval Latin priōritās; see prior ¹, -ity

Explanation

When a group or a person cares about one thing over all others, that’s the top priority. “After the flood, finding a place to live became their first priority.” Priority comes from the word prior, which means to come before something else. A priority is the concern, interest or desire that comes before all others. “His first priority was to establish his career and get married later.” “When seeking the perfect wave, Jeff and Wayne made it their priority to be the first surfers on the beach.” "The new CEO's top priority was firing her predecessor's hires."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

priority priorities

It also called for climate resilience to become a national priority, led by a Cabinet-level minister coordinating preparedness across government and supporting long-term investment.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

The first batch of the release will give priority to diesel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

The two movements overlap heavily in membership and ideas, sharing an emphasis on reasoning through evidence and probabilities, and a conviction that preventing human extinction should be a top priority.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

A priority would be ensuring that even if a party loses, they walk out of the courthouse knowing the judge paid attention.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Once their bodies were discovered with purple thumbprints on their foreheads, Operation Willy Wonka became an MI6 top priority.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

Polls asking voters about priorities use different methodologies, but they broadly agree on the dominance of pocketbook concerns.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

They ask what are the priorities, what are the things we do that are crucial and which are less important?

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

"Our priorities as a council will always be focused on serving local people and bringing meaningful opportunities to the beautiful borough we call home," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

That money will go toward education, job training, water preservation and other local priorities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Capturing or killing him had been one of Barack’s top priorities when he took office.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

• arrangement
• preference