prioritize

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "prioritize" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of giving something precedence over other things, or making something more important than other things. For example, "I'm trying to prioritize my work so I can finish everything on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"President Obama should appoint someone to lead the Fed who has not accepted millions in payments from Wall Street, and who will prioritize an economy that works for the little guy above further enrichment for the big guy".

The Guardian - Business

He wants to know whether, in order to avoid default, the Treasury could prioritize the bills it pays after slamming into the debt ceiling.

The Guardian - Business

It is true that the Left tends to prioritize human welfare over the loaded concept of free trade, but The Economist itself claims the same moral interest when it touts such trade as the antidote to world poverty.

The Economist

According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary online, "concretize", "ironize" and others do exist in American English; but they would never be allowed on to the pages of The Economist, which frowns even on "prioritize" or, as we would spell it, "prioritise".

The Economist

Legislators and public health professionals require population statistics in order to prioritize funding for health programs, such as those aimed at obesity reduction or smoking cessation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As a result, interested parties, such as national governments and conservation organizations, may use the information provided in the IUCN Red List to prioritize their own species-protection efforts.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Having decided what criteria to use, the individual must now decide how to combine or prioritize them.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Standard also proposed U.S. military strategies that would prioritize attacking Ḥussein over eliminating al-Qaeda.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1999 Roberts founded Caspian Networks, which developed routers that worked not on individual packets but on the overall type of a message to prioritize it accordingly.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Established religions can prioritize otherworldly ends over life on earth, too, or identify a church leadership independent of political authorities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The administration of U.S. President Ronald Reagan early on began to prioritize what came to be called the "War on Drugs," which combatted drug trafficking and aimed to end the crack cocaine epidemic destroying many lives.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "prioritize" actively. For example, instead of saying "this should be a priority", say "we need to prioritize this task."

Common error

Avoid prioritizing too many tasks simultaneously. Spreading your focus too thinly can diminish the effectiveness of your prioritization efforts. Focus on the top few items to achieve meaningful progress.

Linguistic Context

The word "prioritize" functions primarily as a transitive verb, indicating an action taken upon an object. It signifies the act of ranking or ordering items according to their relative importance. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage in various contexts, confirming its grammatical correctness and versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "prioritize" is a commonly used and grammatically sound term for ranking tasks or items by importance. Ludwig AI confirms its versatility through a wealth of examples across diverse fields, primarily News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Science. When writing, it is recommended that you provide a clear context or establish the specific criteria for setting the said priorities. While "prioritize" can be useful in different contexts, over-prioritization can be detrimental to effective execution and productivity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Establish priorities

Focuses on the act of setting up a structured list of priorities.

Set priorities

Similar to establish priorities, but with a more general connotation.

Give precedence

Emphasizes the act of allowing something to come before others.

Rank highly

Highlights the position something holds in a hierarchy of importance.

Place importance on

Focuses on the value assigned to something.

Emphasize

Highlights the act of drawing attention to something's importance.

Focus on

Highlights the act of concentrating on something specific.

Stress the importance of

Underlines the significance of something.

Value highly

Refers to assigning a high value or worth to something.

Favor

Suggests preferring one thing over others.

FAQs

How can I use "prioritize" in a sentence?

You can use "prioritize" to indicate the act of arranging items in order of importance, like "We need to "prioritize" our tasks to meet the deadline".

What are some alternatives to the word "prioritize"?

Some alternatives to "prioritize" include "establish priorities", "set priorities", or "give precedence", depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "prioritize" and "emphasize"?

"Prioritize" means to arrange things in order of importance, while "emphasize" means to give special importance or prominence to something. You might "prioritize" tasks based on urgency and then "emphasize" the importance of completing the top priorities.

Is it correct to say "prioritize" something over something else?

Yes, it is correct. For example, "The company decided to "prioritize" customer satisfaction over short-term profits".