take first priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'take first priority' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is more important than anything else. For example: "Time management is an important skill to master, and taking first priority should always be given to activities that are the most beneficial."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Either way, Mr. Scott and Mr. Gowdy insist, their friendship will take first priority and will deepen from the experience of competing.

The New York Times

"In the final analysis," Buckley wrote, "the resistance to a corrupting demagogy should take first priority" for voters.

Huffington Post

They would, if they were being fully honest, say that we are dealing with these countries on a case-by-case basis, and subject to the constraints of the facts that our "national security concerns" take first priority, and the fact that our ability to influence these countries varies, we are doing what we can to promote democracy and human rights in these countries.

Huffington Post

Suppose that, from now on, we adopt the following policy with respect to democracy and human rights in Syria: "Subject to the fact that our national security concerns take first priority, and subject to the degree of influence we have in Syria, we will do what we can in Syria to promote democracy and human rights".

Huffington Post

It would take first priority if I had to choose between it and something else".

AIDS and Behavior

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Did the film take second priority to Star Wars: The Force Awakens?

Independent

Other special interests were also concerned that businesses and residents would take second priority after nature.

Wikipedia

Anti-abortion activists cast it as a case where protecting the life of an unborn fetus should have taken first priority over all other considerations.

Independent

But client work always took first priority, which delayed their ability to focus on Wee Society apps, of which Wee A B See is the first.

TechCrunch

This indicates the order of signal discarding in the process of the constellation optimization: to avoid Pattern-II error takes first priority, then the error Pattern-III and finally error Pattern-I.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The construction of Highway 401 across the province took first priority.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "take first priority", ensure the context clearly establishes what other elements are being considered and why the chosen element is paramount. Be specific.

Common error

Avoid using "take first priority" when the context implies a mutually exclusive choice. If something is the only priority, stating it "takes first priority" is redundant; simply state it is the priority.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "take first priority" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something is being given the highest level of importance or consideration. Ludwig provides examples where it emphasizes essential actions or considerations, like national security or friendship.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "take first priority" is a correct and usable expression for emphasizing the utmost importance of something. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts, indicating its versatility. Although not extremely frequent, it provides a clear directive to focus on what matters most. When using this phrase, be sure to define which actions are being prioritized and, as with any writing, maintain accuracy. The best alternatives are "prioritize" and "put first".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

treat as a priority

Expresses the act of handling something like is very important.

put first

A simpler way to express making something the most important thing.

consider as most important

Explicitly states the act of thinking something as the top thing.

prioritize

This is a shorter, more direct verb meaning to treat something as more important than other things.

give precedence to

This phrase emphasizes the act of awarding higher status or rank.

focus primarily on

Indicates that something is the main area of attention.

place emphasis on

This highlights the act of stressing or focusing on something.

value most

Focuses on the importance and worth assigned to something.

give the highest consideration to

This alternative means to think about something carefully before doing or deciding anything else because it is very important.

regard as paramount

Highlights the supreme importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "take first priority" in a sentence?

You can use "take first priority" to indicate that something should be considered the most important thing. For example, "When managing projects, addressing potential risks should "take first priority"".

What does "take first priority" mean?

The phrase "take first priority" means that something is more important than anything else and should be dealt with before other things.

What can I say instead of "take first priority"?

Alternatives to "take first priority" include "prioritize", "give precedence to", or "put first", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "takes first priority"?

Yes, "takes first priority" is grammatically correct. It is the third-person singular present tense form. For example, "In this company, customer satisfaction "takes first priority"."