priority
preye-O-rih-tee
Priority (noun) means something regarded as more important than other things, and dealt with first. Example: “Safety is our top priority on every job site.”
noun
1
Something regarded as more important than other things, and dealt with first.
"Safety is our top priority on every job site."
"Getting the report finished became a priority this week."
"My priority this morning is to answer the urgent emails."
2
The right to go, act, or be dealt with before others.
"Emergency vehicles have priority at intersections."
"Pedestrians have priority when they are crossing at a zebra crossing."
"Passengers with young children get priority when boarding the plane."
How to use priority
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe thing that matters most and gets attention first, or the right to go first.
Common pairings
top priority
a matter of priority
give priority to
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like priority.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- priorities
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Safety is our top _____ on every job site.
Etymology
From Old French priorite, ultimately from Latin priōritās, built on prior ("earlier").
Synonyms
View more →
precedence
preference
primacy
first concern
top priority
urgency
antecedence
precedency
antecedency
anteriority
Antonyms
posteriority
disfocus
Related words
Rhymes for priority
See all rhymes for priority →Frequently asked questions
What does “priority” mean?
The word “priority” means something regarded as more important than other things, and dealt with first. In plain terms, the thing that matters most and gets attention first, or the right to go first.
How do you pronounce “priority”?
“Priority” is pronounced preye-O-rih-tee (/pɹaɪˈoɹəti/ in IPA).
How do you use “priority” in a sentence?
Here is “priority” used in a sentence: “Safety is our top priority on every job site.”
What is another word for “priority”?
Words with a similar meaning to “priority” include anteriority.
What is the opposite of “priority”?
The opposite of “priority” — its antonyms — is disfocus.
What part of speech is “priority”?
“Priority” is a noun.
Where does the word “priority” come from?
The word “priority” comes from Latin. From Old French priorite, ultimately from Latin priōritās, built on prior ("earlier").
Is “priority” a common word?
“Priority” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is an example of a priority?
A priority is whatever you place first because it matters most. For instance, a parent might make a child's safety their top priority, or a company might treat customer service as a priority over cost-cutting. Saying something is a priority means it will be handled before less important tasks and given greater attention and resources.
What does it mean to prioritize?
To prioritize is to arrange tasks or goals in order of importance so the most pressing ones are dealt with first. It involves deciding what deserves attention now and what can wait. Good prioritizing separates the urgent and important from the trivial, helping people and organisations use limited time and resources where they count most.
What is the opposite of a priority?
The opposite of a priority is something minor, secondary, or non-essential, an item that can wait or be set aside. Where a priority demands immediate attention, a low-priority or back-burner task carries little urgency. Words like afterthought, triviality, or secondary concern capture the idea of something ranked below what truly matters.
Why is setting priorities important?
Setting priorities keeps limited time, energy, and money focused on what matters most. Without them, effort scatters across trivial tasks and important goals slip. Clear priorities reduce stress, speed up decisions, and improve results by ensuring the biggest or most urgent needs are handled first rather than lost among lesser demands.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include priority:
