pressing priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pressing priority" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an issue or task that requires immediate attention or action. Example: "Addressing climate change is a pressing priority for our government."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

An uprated camera may not be a pressing priority.

Independent

Mullah Omar's whereabouts remained an official "tasking" for intelligence collection after the fall of the Taliban, but he was no longer a pressing priority.

The New Yorker

Smit, a Dutch salvage company, has been hired to extract the ship's half million gallons of fuel, which has become a pressing priority to avoid an environmental disaster from the shipwreck.

The New York Times

But it has also drawn attention away from a pressing priority of the United States in Pakistan: engaging cooperation here to help negotiate a peace settlement with the Afghan Taliban as a major troop withdrawal slated for 2014 draws near.

The New York Times

According to the argument, Obama was correct when he said during the campaign that placing a price on carbon in order to transform the economy and begin the process of halting climate change was his more pressing priority.

The New Yorker

He had been quiet until then, despite messages of support coming in from royalty around the world.For the authorities, one increasingly apparent danger is that the nuclear drama is distracting them from what should be an equally pressing priority.

The Economist

Because it was the financial excesses of banks in Ireland, and now Spain, that forced their home countries to eventually seek bailouts, finding a Europewide solution to overseeing financial institutions has become a pressing priority for the euro zone's leadership.

The New York Times

It was a powerful way to enhance the prestige of the shrine as a place of Shia pilgrimage, a pressing priority because the Ottomans controlled the most important Shia pilgrimage sites at Najaf and Kerbala in what is now Iraq.

The Guardian - Arts

Five years on, the issue of school capital funding may have faded from public view, but a new survey of more than 1,000 heads suggests that lack of investment remains a pressing priority for hundreds of primary and secondary schools.

The Guardian

Add the FA's emphasis on the growth of the women's game and the potential for it to be part of the answer to an inactivity crisis among teenage girls and it becomes all the more incredible that this is not more of a pressing priority for the game.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

For Phil Bronstein, The Examiner's executive editor, city and suburban news coverage are crucial, but the most-pressing priority is business coverage ("this is the center of a universe, if not the universe, in technology").

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using "pressing priority". While suitable for formal and professional contexts, adjust the phrasing for informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "pressing priority" repeatedly in a single document or presentation. Vary your language by using synonyms like "urgent matter" or "top priority" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pressing priority" functions as a noun phrase where "pressing" modifies the noun "priority". It typically acts as a subject complement or an object complement, indicating something that requires immediate attention or action, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pressing priority" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to highlight matters demanding immediate attention. Ludwig's analysis, in line with real-world examples, shows its prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, science, and business. Given its clarity and directness, "pressing priority" is a reliable choice for emphasizing urgency. Remember to avoid overuse and consider related phrases for variety in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

urgent priority

Replaces "pressing" with "urgent", emphasizing the immediate need for attention.

critical priority

Substitutes "pressing" with "critical", highlighting the essential nature of the priority.

immediate priority

Similar to "urgent priority", focusing on the need for prompt action.

top priority

Indicates the highest level of importance, differing slightly in nuance from "pressing".

key priority

Highlights the importance of the priority as a central element.

high-level priority

Emphasizes the significance and ranking of the priority.

primary concern

Shifts the focus to a matter of concern that needs immediate attention.

urgent matter

Similar to "urgent priority", focusing on the need for prompt action.

immediate task

Substitutes the more formal "priority" with a common and straightforward task.

foremost responsibility

Focuses on the duty aspect, signaling that it outranks other duties.

FAQs

How can I use "pressing priority" in a sentence?

You can use "pressing priority" to emphasize that something needs immediate attention. For example, "Addressing climate change is a "pressing priority" for our government".

What are some alternatives to "pressing priority"?

You can use alternatives like "urgent priority", "critical priority", or "top priority" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "pressing priority" or "important priority"?

"Pressing priority" emphasizes urgency, while "important priority" simply highlights significance. The choice depends on whether you want to stress the need for immediate action.

What's the difference between "pressing need" and "pressing priority"?

"Pressing need" refers to something that is urgently required, while "pressing priority" refers to something that is an urgent and important goal or task. The former highlights a requirement, and the latter emphasizes a course of action.