What does "priority" mean?

1. (relative importance) the fact that something is more important than other things and needs to be done first. 2. (a specific goal) a specific task or goal that you think is the most important one to achieve. 3. (right of way) the right of a vehicle to go before others at a junction or intersection. 4. (coming first in time) the state of being earlier in time or coming before something else.

priority

US //pɹaɪˈɔɹəti// UK //pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti// pri·or·i·ty

1 relative importance (n.)
B1 Intermediate

the fact that something is more important than other things and needs to be done first.

the state or quality of being more important than other competing considerations. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

Example

Safety is our top priority when we design new cars for families.

Example

The management team decided to give priority to the software update, delaying the marketing campaign until the technical bugs were resolved.
- precedence
- importance
2 a specific goal (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a specific task or goal that you think is the most important one to achieve.

a specific objective or concern that is regarded as more important than others. Countable in this sense.

Example

One of my main priorities this year is to save enough money for a house.

Example

The government's legislative priorities for the coming session include healthcare reform and significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

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3 right of way (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate British English

the right of a vehicle to go before others at a junction or intersection.

the legal right of a road user to proceed before others. Often used with the verb 'give'.

Example

You must give priority to any traffic coming from the right at the roundabout.

Example

The new traffic regulations clarify that cyclists have priority over turning vehicles at this specific intersection to improve urban safety.
- right of way
- precedence
4 coming first in time (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Academic

the state of being earlier in time or coming before something else.

the fact or condition of being earlier in time or of preceding something else in order.

Example

The court had to decide which claim had priority based on the dates of the contracts.

Example

In patent law, the principle of priority ensures that the individual who first files the invention is granted the legal rights over subsequent applicants.
- precedence
- antecedence
- posteriority

Origin

From Old French priorite, from Latin priōritās. Surface analysis: prior + -ity.

Word family

Verbprioritize
Nounpriority