the top priority

USAGE SUMMARY

'the top priority' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to an activity, task, or goal that is of prime importance. For example: 'Getting the job done quickly is the top priority.'.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"That's the top priority".

The New York Times

The top priority for both is Syria.

The New Yorker

The top priority is MySpace.

The New York Times

The top priority remains domestic.

The New York Times

That's got to be the top priority".

The New York Times

It's going to be the top priority".

The New York Times

Avoiding injury is the top priority.

The New York Times - Sports

The political scoreboard is the top priority.

The Guardian

"Data stewardship should be the top priority for them".

The New York Times

But shouldn't the team's success be the top priority?

The New York Times - Sports

At first, unclogging the traffic was the top priority.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the singular most important item, use "the top priority". It clearly communicates focus and direction, ensuring everyone understands what needs immediate attention.

Common error

Avoid overuse; repeatedly labeling everything as "the top priority" dilutes its meaning and creates confusion. Instead, strategically reserve the phrase for truly critical items to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the top priority" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as a subject complement or object in a sentence. Ludwig examples confirm its usage in highlighting the most important task or concern. As stated in Ludwig AI, the phrase is indeed correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the top priority" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the most important task, objective, or concern. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its neutral-to-professional register makes it suitable for various contexts, including news, business, and academic writing. Common alternatives include "the main focus", "the chief concern", and "the key objective". When employing the phrase, it's crucial to reserve it for truly critical items to avoid diluting its impact, with over 60 examples found across authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, the examples from Ludwig show it's consistent and correct usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the main focus

Replaces 'priority' with 'focus', shifting the emphasis to the center of attention or effort.

the chief concern

Substitutes 'priority' with 'concern', highlighting the primary worry or matter of interest.

the key objective

Uses 'objective' instead of 'priority', emphasizing the most important goal to achieve.

the principal task

Replaces 'priority' with 'task', focusing on the most important job or duty to be done.

the leading aim

Changes 'priority' to 'aim', stressing the primary purpose or intention.

the foremost responsibility

Emphasizes the primary obligation or duty by using 'responsibility' instead of 'priority'.

the crucial element

Focuses on the most important component or aspect by using 'element' instead of 'priority'.

the overriding goal

Highlights the goal that takes precedence over all others, using 'overriding' to convey dominance.

the paramount issue

Replaces 'priority' with 'issue', stressing the most important matter that needs to be addressed.

the central mission

Substitutes 'priority' with 'mission', emphasizing the core purpose or task to be accomplished.

FAQs

How can I use "the top priority" in a sentence?

"The top priority" is used to indicate what is most important or urgent. For example, "Getting the project completed on time is "the top priority"."

What are some alternatives to "the top priority"?

You can use alternatives such as "the main focus", "the chief concern", or "the key objective" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "one of the top priorities"?

Yes, "one of the top priorities" is grammatically correct. It indicates that something is among the most important, but not necessarily the single most important thing. It is a plural form, against the singular ""the top priority"".

What's the difference between "a priority" and "the top priority"?

"A priority" simply indicates something that is important, while ""the top priority"" indicates the single most important thing among all priorities.