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Added 10 October 2026

prioritize

/pɹaɪˈɒɹ.ə.taɪz/ verb

First recorded: 1967 Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about prioritize at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Assign a priority to.
we have too many things to do and must prioritize

Origin

From priority + -ize. First attested in 1967 as U.S. government jargon, becoming more widespread through the 1970s and ’80s, but still denounced as officialese by purists into the 1990s.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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