Prioritize: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when you want to arrange tasks or items in order of importance, especially when some tasks need urgent attention.

• You need to prioritize your tasks to meet the project deadline.
• Lisa prioritized her studies over social activities during exams.

Use 'rank' when you want to arrange items or people in order based on certain criteria, like performance, quality, or importance. This often carries a more formal or evaluative tone.

• The company ranks its employees based on their annual performance reviews.
• We need to rank the candidates before making a decision.

This word is best used for arranging or setting up things in a structured and efficient way. It often applies to physical spaces, documents, or events.

• I need to organize my desk to improve my productivity.
• They organized the event very well, with everything running smoothly.

This word is used when you want to plan events or tasks to occur at specific times. It is more about time management and planning.

• Let's schedule a meeting for next Monday.
• She scheduled her day to maximize productivity.

Used when discussing the arrangement of tasks or duties in order of importance. Commonly found in professional or personal planning scenarios.

• We need to prioritize our projects to meet the deadlines.
• She always prioritizes her family over work.

Applied when pointing out the importance or value of something, often to make it stand out. Frequently used in discussions, presentations, and written communication.

• The speaker emphasized the need for immediate action.
• He emphasized the importance of good study habits.

Used when making something stand out as particularly important or interesting. Often seen in reports, articles, presentations, or visual media.

• The report highlights the key achievements of the quarter.
• She highlighted the main points of the document.

Used when directing attention or efforts toward a particular subject, task, or object. Suitable for both everyday and professional contexts.

• Let's focus on improving our customer service.
• She decided to focus on her studies this year.