prioritize time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prioritize time" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing the importance of managing or allocating time effectively. Example: "In order to meet deadlines, we need to prioritize time for each project." Alternative expressions include "manage time" and "allocate time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

I learned to prioritize time to re-energize.

Harvard Business Review

But it's also easy to kid yourself that you've always got urgent demands and never have prioritize time for what's harder to do, but will truly add value.

Harvard Business Review

Plan how you'll set aside and prioritize time for family, friends, and hobbies; consider where you have flexibility and where you need more of it.

Harvard Business Review

Does the school prioritize time for ongoing and relevant teacher professional development?

Forbes

Anyway, prioritize time with them, but create "business hours," a time frame when they know you are working and shouldn't be disturbed (unless it's an emergency).

Forbes

2. Prioritize time with family and friends.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Prioritize time-sensitive events.

WikiHow

This paper addresses Multi-objective Vehicle Routing Problem with Multiple Prioritized Time Windows (VRPMPTW) in which the distributer proposes a set of all non-overlapping time windows with equal or different lengths and the customers prioritize these delivery time windows.

Computers & Industrial Engineering

In the algorithm itself, Medium prioritizes time spent on an article, rather than simple page views.

TechCrunch

Scoring a visit or tasting with Claudine has become increasingly difficult, as she prioritizes time spent in the vineyards or with her kids.

Forbes

In our workplace model that prioritizes time spent at a desk, Sam and Pat may rarely move from their chairs.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with the preposition "for" (e.g., "prioritize time for family") or "to" (e.g., "prioritize time to reflect") to clearly state the objective.

Common error

Do not use "prioritize time first". Since prioritization inherently involves putting the most important things first, adding the word "first" is a tautology and makes the sentence clunky.

Linguistic Context

As a verb phrase, "prioritize time" serves to denote the action of evaluating and ranking tasks to ensure that temporal resources are spent on the most critical objectives. According to Ludwig, it typically functions as the main predicate in sentences focused on productivity and life balance.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "prioritize time" is a robust and versatile expression essential for discussing productivity, leadership, and personal well-being. Ludwig confirms its correctness and high frequency across authoritative platforms like Harvard Business Review and Forbes. It effectively communicates the strategic act of ranking tasks by importance rather than just being busy. Whether used in a personal context ("prioritize time for family") or a professional one ("prioritize time for innovation"), it implies a high degree of intentionality. Ludwig AI highlights that while variations like "allocate time" or "manage time" are available, "prioritize time" remains the gold standard for describing the active decision-making process of resource management.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allocate time

Suggests a more formal or structured distribution of hours to specific tasks.

manage time

Focuses on the overall control and organization of one's schedule rather than just ranking tasks.

make time

Often used when one is busy and needs to deliberately create a space in their schedule.

set aside time

Implies reserving a specific block of time for a particular purpose.

dedicate time

Similar to devote, it implies a high level of focus and importance placed on the activity.

devote time

Carries a connotation of commitment or dedication to a specific cause or person.

budget time

Uses a financial metaphor to suggest careful and measured planning of available hours.

earmark time

Indicates that a certain amount of time has been designated for a future goal.

schedule time

More logistical, referring to the act of putting a task onto a calendar.

apportion time

A formal term used for dividing time into parts or shares for different duties.

FAQs

How do I use "prioritize time" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe focusing on what matters most, for example: "To succeed in this role, you must "prioritize time" for deep work over administrative tasks."

What is the difference between "prioritize time" and "manage time"?

While "manage time" refers to the general organization of your day, "prioritize time" specifically highlights the act of choosing more important tasks over less important ones.

Is it better to say "prioritize your time"?

Both are correct, but "prioritize your time" is more personal and common in advice-giving contexts, whereas "prioritize time" is more general and often used in professional guidelines.

Can I use "prioritize time" in an academic paper?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable. You might also consider using "allocate time" if you are referring to the distribution of resources in a study or experiment.