prioritize something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prioritize something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea that somebody should consider something to be a higher priority than other things. For example: "It is important to prioritize our safety in this situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

If the goal of our educational system includes high-functioning, healthy students, then educators have to prioritize something alongside academic mastery and social-emotional wellness.

Harvard University

This fall, I'd encourage administrators to prioritize something a bit harder to quantify than test scores, but just as vital: the emotional lives of America's kids — especially its boys.

The Washington Post

A doctor in Plano, Tex., apologized Sunday after sparking outrage for saying that female physicians make less than men because they "don't work as hard" and prioritize "something else … family, social, whatever". Medical professionals had taken Gary Tigges to task on social media for views they say are discriminatory and disproved by most research.

The Washington Post

There's usually an interest gap between you and the third party that paid for the algorithms to prioritize something for you.

TechCrunch

Don't worry, this sounds just as crazy to me as it does to you, but whenever a company with a billion dollar R&D budget decides to prioritize something, it's worth paying attention to.

TechCrunch

On any given Tuesday, however, the situation is different; people can — and often do — miss flights for various reasons, whether that happens because of delayed connecting flights, a traffic accident on the way to the airport or something else happening in people's lives that means they are unable to travel or they prioritize something else in their lives above going to the airport.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's also no small matter that adults' basic credibility is at stake if young people, with razor sharp alertness to hypocrisy view us as saying one thing while consistently prioritizing something else.

Huffington Post

How we'll prioritize is something we'll do looking forward, no plan right now.

TechCrunch

Knowing how to prioritize if something unexpectedly comes up is important, too.

Huffington Post

It gives you the real-time data you need to pinpoint and prioritize when something needs to be fixed before it breaks.

Huffington Post

When I started my company I saw an opening for culture – just like I saw an opening in the market for my startup – a dire need for a new kind of company culture in the valley that prioritizes something different.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prioritize something", ensure that the context clearly defines what the 'something' is. Vague references can lead to confusion. For example, instead of "We need to prioritize something", say "We need to prioritize customer satisfaction".

Common error

Avoid prioritizing too many things at once. Over-prioritization defeats the purpose of prioritizing, as it can lead to diluted focus and inefficiency. Instead, focus on prioritizing the most critical items first and address others sequentially.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prioritize something" functions as a verb phrase, where "prioritize" is a transitive verb and "something" serves as its direct object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, which reinforces its grammatical function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prioritize something" is a grammatically sound phrase used to advise or urge someone to give precedence to a particular item or action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it appears across various contexts, including news, academic, and scientific writing. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly defining what the 'something' is to avoid confusion. Remember to avoid over-prioritization, as it defeats the purpose. Alternatives include phrases like "emphasize something" or "focus on something", which may suit different nuances of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Give something priority

Focuses on allocating importance to a specific item.

Emphasize something

Stresses the importance of something to be noticed.

Highlight something

Focuses on bringing attention to something.

Focus on something

Indicates concentrating efforts or attention.

Concentrate on something

Similar to focus, but can suggest more dedicated effort.

Stress something

Highlights the importance or urgency.

Value something

Emphasizes the worth or importance attributed to something.

Elevate something

Suggests raising the status or importance of something.

Prefer something

Expresses a choice of one thing over others.

Favor something

Indicates a bias or preference towards something.

FAQs

How can I use "prioritize something" in a sentence?

You can use "prioritize something" to indicate that a particular thing should be given more importance or attention than others. For example, "We need to "prioritize something", like employee well-being, to improve productivity."

What are some alternatives to "prioritize something"?

Alternatives include "emphasize something", "focus on something", or "give something priority", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "prioritize something"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The verb "prioritize" can take a direct object, making "prioritize something" a valid and usable phrase.

What's the difference between "prioritize something" and "prioritizing something"?

"Prioritize something" is an imperative or infinitive form, suggesting an action to be taken. "Prioritizing something" is a gerund or present participle form, indicating an ongoing action or process.