set as priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set as priority" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it to express the idea that something should be given more attention or be treated as a top priority. For example, "We need to set cost efficiency as priority in order to maximize our profits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Most of the things that we set as priorities in this budget were achieved," said Robert M. Ward of North Branford, the House minority leader.

The New York Times

The outcomes reveal that, with limited urban planning and development budget, the most influential concepts that may be set as priorities are walkability, neighborhood job opportunities, and availability of public transport infrastructures related to different modes.

Land Use Policy

While these issues have some connection with the intermediate results set as priorities for 2012, they show a number of differences in terms of types of problem, the groups involved, the territorial scope and the institutions responsible (duty-bearers) that require specific settings in terms of partnerships, information-gathering efforts and advocacy, among others.

Unicef

In his State of the Union address in February, President Obama set as a priority making "high-quality preschool available to every single child in America".

The New York Times

A component of the national ecological restoration plan, the Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP 1 has been set as a priority in the Central Committee's Document No. 2 and the meeting on the Development of China's Western Region in January 2000.

IZA Journal of Migration

The work to reduce population growth must be set as a priority for international cooperation.

Huffington Post

Moreover, children's health has been set as a priority in the European Environmental Health Action Plan (WHO 2010b).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Since 2007, we have set as a priority in our hospital the eradication of nosocomial infections.

BMC Infectious Diseases

A long-time child advocate with her Children of Africa foundation, the First Lady set as a priority tackling child labour in cacao plantations in the country.

Unicef

High mortality of pneumococcal meningitis should be further investigated and to be set as a priority towards the development of improved preventive as well as therapeutic approaches.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Presents for all A long-time child advocate with her Children of Africa foundation, the First Lady set as a priority tackling child labour in cacao plantations in the country.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use this phrase to indicate a deliberate decision or a shift in policy rather than a passive observation.

Common error

Do not use "set as priority" when you simply mean that something is important. Use the single verb "prioritize" for a more direct and concise statement unless you specifically want to emphasize the act of categorization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set as priority" functions as a complex transitive verb construction where an object (the item being prioritized) is assigned a specific status. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to express that something should be given more attention or treated as a top concern. It often appears in passive constructions like "was set as priority" or in list-like settings where articles are omitted for brevity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "set as priority" is a robust and versatile phrase found frequently in high-authority sources such as The New York Times, The Economist and peer-reviewed scientific journals. According to Ludwig AI, it is fully correct and effective for signaling that a specific task, policy or variable should receive primary attention. While it is often interchangeable with variations that include an article (e.g., "set as a priority"), its usage remains prevalent in professional registers. Writers should feel confident using it to define strategic goals, though they may opt for alternatives like "prioritize" for greater conciseness or "designate as a priority" for more administrative weight.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a priority

More common in general and persuasive writing

prioritize

A more concise single-verb alternative

establish as a priority

Suggests a more formal or structural implementation

designate as a priority

Implies an official or administrative classification

treat as a priority

Focuses on the ongoing handling rather than the initial setting

place priority on

Shifts the focus to the allocation of resources or attention

identify as a priority

Emphasizes the selection and recognition phase

set as a top priority

Adds intensity and superlative importance

accord priority to

Highly formal, often used in diplomatic or legal contexts

view as a priority

Suggests a subjective perception of importance

FAQs

How to use "set as priority" in a sentence?

You can use it when discussing management or planning, for example: "The board decided to "set as priority" the expansion of our digital infrastructure."

What can I say instead of "set as priority"?

Depending on the context, you could use "prioritize", "make a priority" or "give precedence to".

Which is correct, "set as priority" or "set as a priority"?

Both are correct, but "set as a priority" is more frequent in standard prose, while "set as priority" is common in technical, list-based or shorthand writing.

Is "set as priority" formal enough for a business report?

Yes, it is perfectly appropriate for professional contexts. If you want even more formality, you might consider "designate as a priority".