# priority

/pɹaɪˈɔɹəti/ (US) · /pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/priority
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. relative importance

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- Safety is our top priority when we design new cars for families.
- The management team decided to give priority to the software update, delaying the marketing campaign until the technical bugs were resolved.

### 2. a specific goal

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- One of my main priorities this year is to save enough money for a house.
- The government's legislative priorities for the coming session include healthcare reform and significant investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

### 3. right of way

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

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

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

- You must give priority to any traffic coming from the right at the roundabout.
- The new traffic regulations clarify that cyclists have priority over turning vehicles at this specific intersection to improve urban safety.

### 4. coming first in time

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

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

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

- The court had to decide which claim had priority based on the dates of the contracts.
- In patent law, the principle of priority ensures that the individual who first files the invention is granted the legal rights over subsequent applicants.

## Examples

- Safety is our top priority at the construction site.
- The manager asked the team to list their tasks in order of priority to meet the deadline.
- In an era of fiscal restraint, the government must decide whether infrastructure investment or social welfare takes priority in the upcoming budget cycle.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.