the highest priority

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the highest priority" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to emphasize the importance or urgency of something. For example: "Making our customers happy should be the highest priority."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Safety is the highest priority of pharmacies.

The New York Times

"The highest priority now is to secure the coastal towns".

The New York Times

Preserving Belarusian independence, not democratisation, has become the highest priority.

The Guardian

Death penalty cases would merit the highest priority, he said.

The New York Times

The qualifiers are No1 and have the highest priority.

The Guardian - Sport

The highest priority for the French government is security.

The Guardian

"Sustainable development has not been the highest priority".

The New York Times

Reforming its peacekeeping capability, he said, deserved the highest priority.

The New York Times

"Truthfully, this is not the highest priority," he said.

The New York Times

Which should be the highest priority for police?

The Guardian - Opinion

And preserving the past is not always the highest priority.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the highest priority", ensure that the context clearly defines what that priority is and why it holds such importance. Being specific avoids ambiguity and strengthens your message.

Common error

Avoid using "the highest priority" too frequently in your writing. Overuse can diminish its impact. Instead, vary your language by using synonyms like "key objective" or "utmost importance" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the highest priority" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object within a sentence. It identifies the most important task, goal, or concern. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage based on the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the highest priority" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that highlights the paramount importance of something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to emphasize a key item or objective. The phrase appears most often in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, maintaining a neutral to professional register. To enhance your writing, be mindful of clearly defining the priority and avoiding overuse, considering synonyms such as "the top priority" or "the utmost importance".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the top priority

Replaces "highest" with "top", a common synonym for indicating the most important thing.

the number one priority

Uses a numerical designation to clearly indicate that something is the most important.

the primary focus

Emphasizes the main area of attention or concentration.

the utmost importance

Shifts from priority to importance, highlighting the great significance of something.

the overriding concern

Indicates that this concern takes precedence over all others.

the chief concern

Focuses on concern as the main issue needing attention, implying high priority.

the most crucial matter

Uses "crucial" to emphasize the critical nature and high importance of the matter.

the essential requirement

Focuses on something that is absolutely necessary, implying high priority for fulfillment.

the key objective

Highlights the main goal or aim to be achieved, implying its high priority.

the principal task

Highlights the main task or duty that needs to be done, implying its high priority.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "the highest priority" in a sentence?

To effectively use "the highest priority" in a sentence, clearly state what holds this position. For example, "Ensuring customer satisfaction is "the highest priority" for our company."

What are some alternatives to "the highest priority"?

You can use alternatives like "the top priority", "the utmost importance", or "the primary focus" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "a highest priority"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. Use "the highest priority" because you are referring to something specific and unique, thus requiring the definite article "the".

What is the difference between "a high priority" and "the highest priority"?

"A high priority" indicates something is important, but ""the highest priority"" indicates it is the most important among all other priorities.