gave priority to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gave priority to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the importance or precedence given to a particular task, issue, or individual over others. Example: "In the meeting, we gave priority to addressing the budget concerns before moving on to other topics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The sociologists tended to favor immediate action; the economists gave priority to research.

The New Yorker

Some classes I gave priority to were about genetics, water and the expansion of the universe.

The New York Times

Mr Kirchner gave priority to soothing the angry streets rather than foreign investors.

The Economist

As early as 1947, therefore, Stalin gave priority to ICBM development.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Some leaders gave priority to restructuring and others to monetary reform, they said.

The New York Times

The building intensified his already sharp preservationist instincts, which gave priority to existing structures and the natural landscape.

The New York Times - Arts

Partly in response to this deployment, the United States gave priority to its Polaris program, which became operational in 1960.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Schröder government gave priority to structural reforms over fiscal consolidation, which today's Merkel government regards as an egregious mistake.

The Economist

Showing good judgment as well as feeling for his native country, he gave priority to North Africa.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Under the notorious "Sons and Daughters" scheme, many local councils gave priority to housing locally born, ie predominantly white, residents.

The Guardian - Opinion

"He gave priority to positive reports... and as for bad news, the bearer could pay a high price".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "gave priority to", ensure the subject clearly indicates who or what is assigning the priority. For instance, "The manager gave priority to customer service initiatives" clarifies who is setting the priority.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating who is giving the priority. A sentence like "Priority was given to the project" is less clear than "The team gave priority to the project."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gave priority to" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something was considered more important than something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

31%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Unknown/unmatched sources

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gave priority to" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate that something was considered more important than something else. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, ranging from news and media to science and formal business. While alternatives such as "prioritized" or "emphasized" exist, the choice depends on the specific shade of meaning you wish to convey. When using the phrase, clarity is key: ensure that the subject assigning the priority is explicitly stated to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prioritized

Single-word verb replacing the phrase for brevity and directness.

gave precedence to

More formal, highlighting the order of importance.

emphasized

Highlights the importance or prominence given.

placed emphasis on

Similar to "emphasized" but uses a slightly different structure.

favored

Implies a preference or bias toward something.

stressed the importance of

More explicitly states the significance attached.

attached importance to

Indicates the significance someone assigns.

concentrated on

Suggests a focusing of effort or attention.

focused on

Indicates a specific direction of attention or effort.

made a point of

Highlights the deliberate nature of giving something focus.

FAQs

How can I use "gave priority to" in a sentence?

Use "gave priority to" to show that something was considered more important than other things. For example, "The company "gave priority to" environmental issues this year".

What is a synonym for "gave priority to"?

Alternatives to "gave priority to" include "prioritized", "emphasized", or "favored", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "gave priority to" or "prioritized"?

Both "gave priority to" and "prioritized" are correct. "Prioritized" is more concise, while "gave priority to" can provide more emphasis.

What's the difference between "gave priority to" and "gave preference to"?

"Gave priority to" implies a ranking of importance, while "gave preference to" suggests a bias or inclination toward something. The best choice depends on the intended meaning and context.