- [countable] something that you think is more important than other things and should be dealt with first
- a high/low priority
- Education is a top priority.
- Our first priority is to improve standards.
- National security is our main priority.
- Public sector reform is a key priority.
- Financial security was high on his list of priorities.
- You need to get your priorities right (= decide what is important to you).
- (North American English) You need to get your priorities straight.
- The department must start setting priorities.
Extra Examples- Material possessions have always been a low priority for Mike.
- To reduce stress you may have to rethink your priorities in life.
- Using the internet is one of the company's top strategic priorities.
- We assign a high priority to research and development.
- We need to place a higher priority on family and social issues.
- You need to sort out your priorities before making a decision about the future.
- The development of a nuclear arsenal became a priority for Stalin.
- Each candidate repeatedly promised to make education a national priority.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- main
- major
- …
- choose
- decide on
- determine
- …
- priority over
- a list of priorities
- order of priority
- place a high priority on something
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [uncountable] the most important place among various things that have to be done or among a group of people synonym precedence
- Club members will be given priority.
- The search for a new vaccine will take priority over all other medical research.
- A clean ocean must have priority over the profits of polluting industries.
- Priority cases, such as homeless families, get dealt with first.
Extra Examples- The bank seems to give priority to new customers.
- The government is giving priority to school leavers in its job creation programme.
- Her family takes priority over her work.
- When hospital funds are being allocated children take priority.
- List the tasks in order of priority.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- high
- main
- major
- …
- choose
- decide on
- determine
- …
- priority over
- a list of priorities
- order of priority
- place a high priority on something
- …
- [uncountable] (British English) the right of a vehicle to go before other traffic at a particular place on a road synonym right of way
- Buses have priority at this junction.
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting precedence in time or rank): from Old French priorite, from medieval Latin prioritas, from Latin prior ‘former’, related to prae ‘before’.
Check pronunciation:
priority