Prioritize

pri‧o‧ri‧tize AC BrE AmE (also prioritise British English) /praɪˈɒrətaɪz, praɪˈɒrɪtaɪz $ -ˈɔːr-/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: ↑priority, ↑prioritization; verb: ↑prioritize]
1. to put several things, problems etc in order of importance, so that you can deal with the most important ones first:
You need to prioritize your tasks.
2. to deal with one thing first, because it is the most important:
The public wants to see the fight against crime prioritized.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

prioritize

pri·ori·tize AW (BrE also -ise) [prioritize prioritizes prioritized prioritizing] [praɪˈɒrətaɪz] [praɪˈɔːrətaɪz] verb
1. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to put tasks, problems, etc. in order of importance, so that you can deal with the most important first

• You should make a list of all the jobs you have to do and prioritize them.

2. transitive ~ sth (formal) to treat sth as being more important than other things

• The organization was formed to prioritize the needs of older people.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

prioritize ( UK usually prioritise ) / praɪˈɒr.ɪ.taɪz / / -ˈɔːr.ə- / verb [ I or T ]

to decide which of a group of things are the most important so that you can deal with them first:

You must learn to prioritize your work.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

prioritize

[praɪɒ̱rɪtaɪz, AM -ɔ͟ːr-]
prioritizes, prioritizing, prioritized
(in BRIT, also use prioritise)
1) VERB If you prioritize something, you treat it as more important than other things.
[V n] The government is prioritising the service sector, rather than investing in industry and production.
2) VERB If you prioritize the tasks that you have to do, you decide which are the most important and do them first.
[V n] Make lists of what to do and prioritize your tasks. [Also V]

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

prioritize

pri·or·i·tize also Brit pri·or·i·tise /praɪˈorəˌtaɪz/ verb -tiz·es; -tized; -tiz·ing
1 : to organize (things) so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first

[+ obj]

• It's always difficult to prioritize work, school, and family.

[no obj]

• If you want to do your job efficiently, you have to learn to prioritize.
2 [+ obj] : to make (something) the most important thing in a group
• The town council hopes to prioritize the bridge construction project at the next meeting.

American English

British English

classifying and creating order

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

verb

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