prioritise over

USAGE SUMMARY

"prioritise over" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to state that one thing, action, or task should be given priority over something else. For example: "I will have to prioritise studying for my final exam over going out with my friends this weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But for the free-spirited Malaviya, surfing will always be an overwhelming love for all things ocean and the giddy rush of feeling like a child again, something she wants everyone, regardless of gender, to prioritise over winning a prize.

Vice

The marginal effects and marginal rates of substitution reported here confirm the relevance of non-health arguments when individuals prioritise over health states.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

This may be because of challenges when reporting time for breastfeeding initiation [ 16] but can also be partly explained by competing newborn care practices that families prioritise over immediate breastfeeding.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Kent County Council in particular previously said it was worried that long-distance commuters could lose out if stopping services were prioritised over fast regional trains.

Independent

Environment minister Thérèse Coffey said in October that binding recycling targets based on weight alone could lead to "perverse outcomes", with, for example, heavy garden waste prioritised over plastic.

The Guardian

Based on the findings from this study, we suggest that concerns relating to interoperability should not be prioritised over-and-above ensuring that essential local needs are met.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Breeders and trainers now prioritise speed over stamina.

BBC

Broader approaches should be prioritised over narrower ones".

The Guardian

Roads in Sweden are built with safety prioritised over speed or convenience.

The Economist

One development target that should be prioritised over others is the eradication of tuberculosis (TB).

The Guardian

Clients will be prioritised over other applicants and receive a bonus share for every 10 acquired.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prioritise over", ensure that the context clearly indicates why one thing is being given precedence. Providing a rationale strengthens your argument and makes your writing more persuasive.

Common error

Avoid using "prioritise over" in contexts where a more neutral term like "consider" or "weigh" would be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly forceful or biased.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prioritise over" functions as a phrasal verb indicating that one thing should be given more importance or attention than another. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prioritise over" is a grammatically sound phrasal verb used to express that something should be given more importance than something else. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and can be used in your writing. Though less frequent than some alternatives, it is found in a mix of news, media, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, be mindful of the context and ensure that it aligns with the intended level of formality. Consider alternatives like "give priority to over" when a more explicit and formal tone is needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give priority to over

Changes the verb to "give priority", which is a more explicit way of expressing prioritization.

favour over

A more formal synonym, indicating a preference or advantage given to one thing over another.

value more than

Focuses on the relative value placed on something, rather than the act of prioritizing.

rate higher than

Focuses on the assessment or evaluation of one thing being superior to another.

prefer to over

Emphasizes preference rather than strict prioritization, suggesting a choice based on inclination.

emphasize over

Shifts the focus to highlighting the importance of one thing more than another.

stress over

Similar to "emphasize", but suggests a stronger focus or insistence.

put first over

Simplifies the phrasing to highlight the act of placing something in the first position.

elevate above

Implies raising one thing to a higher status or importance compared to another.

esteem more highly than

A more formal and emphatic way of saying "value more than", suggesting deep respect or admiration.

FAQs

How can I use "prioritise over" in a sentence?

You can use "prioritise over" to indicate that one thing should be considered more important than another, for example: "The company decided to prioritise customer satisfaction over short-term profits."

What's a formal alternative to "prioritise over"?

A more formal alternative could be "give priority to over", which sounds more official and less conversational.

Is there a subtle difference between "prioritise over" and "prefer over"?

Yes, "prioritise over" suggests a more deliberate and strategic decision, while "prefer over" implies a matter of taste or inclination.

When should I use "emphasize over" instead of "prioritise over"?

Use "emphasize over" when you want to highlight the importance of something without necessarily suggesting it should be done first or take precedence in all situations. Prioritizing implies a sequence of actions, emphasis indicates importance or intensity.