prioritize

verb

pri·​or·​i·​tize prī-ˈȯr-ə-ˌtīz 

-ˈär-;

ˈprī-ə-rə-

prioritized; prioritizing

transitive verb

: to list or rate (projects, goals, etc.) in order of priority

prioritization

prī-ˌȯr-ə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

-är-;

ˌprī-ə-rə-

noun

Examples of prioritize in a Sentence

It's always difficult to prioritize work, school, and family.

If you want to do your job efficiently, you have to learn to prioritize.

The town council hopes to prioritize the bridge construction project at the next meeting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Questions remain But Council member Johnathan Duncan, 6th District, said the city needs to start prioritizing the general fund and is not fully accounting for how much tax revenue is being redirected. — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026

Not dedicating, not prioritizing, not committing to funding the mental health services that are necessary under state law and the federal constitution is not an adequate excuse. — Jim Defede, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Choosing IndieWire as a preferred source ensures that Google will prioritize IndieWire stories in all of your queries, including traditional searches, Discover, and AI Overviews. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026

Even in this one small room, the teacher prioritized shelf space for a library, and students could take books home. — Nora Oakes Howard, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prioritize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies