prioritize: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “prioritize” mean?
to decide which tasks, problems, or goals are most important so that you can deal with them first.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to decide which tasks, problems, or goals are most important so that you can deal with them first.
To organize or deal with items according to their relative importance; to give priority or precedence to something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The primary difference is in the accepted spelling variants. British English also accepts 'prioritise' (with an 's'), while American English strictly uses 'prioritize' (with a 'z'). The verb 'prioritise' is listed in major British dictionaries like the OED.
Connotations
Connotations are identical: managerial, efficient, strategic. It can carry a slightly bureaucratic tone in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common and standard in both varieties. The 'z' spelling is globally dominant due to American influence.
Grammar
How to Use “prioritize” in a Sentence
prioritize somethingprioritize something over somethingprioritize between something and somethingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “prioritize” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We must prioritise patient safety above all else.
- The council is prioritising the repair of major roads.
American English
- Managers need to prioritize their team's workload.
- She prioritized paying off her debt.
adverb
British English
- N/A (The adverb is 'prioritally', but it is extremely rare and non-standard).
American English
- N/A (No standard adverb form; use phrases like 'in order of priority').
adjective
British English
- N/A (The adjective form is 'priority', as in 'a priority task').
American English
- N/A (The adjective form is 'priority', as in 'a priority item').
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used constantly in project management, team meetings, and strategy documents to allocate effort and resources efficiently.
Academic
Common in research and policy papers discussing competing objectives, e.g., 'The study prioritizes environmental sustainability over economic growth.'
Everyday
Used in personal time management, e.g., 'I need to prioritize fixing the leak over cleaning the garage.'
Technical
Used in computing (process scheduling) and emergency services (triage).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “prioritize”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'We need to prioritize.' is correct, but 'We need to prioritize *on* our goals.' is incorrect). Confusing with 'prefer' ('I prioritize tea' vs. the more correct 'I prefer tea' unless in a specific list of beverage importance).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'prioritise' is the standard British English spelling, while 'prioritize' is standard in American English. Both are correct in their respective dialects.
Yes, it can be used intransitively. Example: 'With so many issues, we must learn to prioritize.' The object (e.g., 'tasks') is implied.
The primary noun form is 'priority'. The act of prioritizing can be called 'prioritization' (or 'prioritisation' in British English).
It is neutral to formal. It is perfectly at home in business and academic contexts. In very casual speech, people might say 'put first' or 'figure out what's most important'.
to decide which tasks, problems, or goals are most important so that you can deal with them first.
Prioritize: in British English it is pronounced /praɪˈɒr.ə.taɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /praɪˈɔːr.ə.taɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Put first things first”
- “Triaging tasks”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRIORity lIST (or lIZE if American). You make a list of things with the PRIOR ones at the top.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS HIGH/UP; LESS IMPORTANT IS LOW/DOWN (e.g., 'top priority,' 'high on the list,' 'lower priority').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'prioritize' correctly?