What is priority? Pronunciation and usage in English

priority means . Learn how to pronounce and use priority through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of priority

prioritynoun

/prʌɪˈɒrɪti/
Definition & pronunciation of priority

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "priority." It's a tricky one because it's a common source of mispronunciation! Here's a breakdown:

Correct Pronunciation:

  • PRI-or-i-ty

Let's break it down further:

  • PRI: Pronounced like "pree" - as in "free." The "i" is short and quick.
  • or: Pronounced like "or" as in "more."
  • i-ty: Pronounced like "i-tee." The "i" is short, and "tee" rhymes with "see."

Key Points & Common Mistakes:

  • Don't say "pre-or-i-ty". The "p" sound isn't pronounced.
  • Don’t elongate the “i” in “or”. It's a quick “or.”
  • Stress: The primary stress falls on the first syllable: PRI.

Resources to Listen:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Are you a native English speaker, or are you learning?
  • What specifically are you struggling with when pronouncing it? (e.g., the "pri" sound, the "or," etc.)

Usage and examples with the word priority in English

Let's break down how to use the word "priority" in English. It's a versatile word with several related meanings.

1. Core Meaning: Importance & Ranking

At its most basic, "priority" means something that is most important and deserves attention first. It's about ranking things in terms of how urgent or crucial they are.

  • Example: "Finishing this report is my priority today." (This means completing the report is the single most important thing to do.)
  • Example: "Saving for retirement should be a top priority." (It’s the most important long-term goal.)

2. As a Noun (the thing that's important)

  • Personal Priorities: These are things you value and want to focus on in your life.
    • "My priorities are my family, my health, and my career."
  • Business Priorities: These are the key goals a company is trying to achieve.
    • "The company’s main priority is to increase sales this quarter."
  • Emergency Priorities: These are urgent situations requiring immediate action.
    • "Securing the building is the police department’s priority after the explosion."

3. As a Verb (to make something a priority)

This means to designate something as important and to make sure it’s given attention.

  • Example: “We need to prioritize our tasks and focus on the most critical ones.” (Meaning we need to decide what's most important and concentrate on it.)
  • Example: “The doctor prioritized the patient’s surgery because of the severity of his condition.” (Meaning the surgery was considered more important than other procedures.)

4. Common Phrases Using "Priority"

  • Top Priority: The most important thing.
  • Low Priority: Something that isn’t important and can wait.
  • Highest Priority: The single most important thing.
  • Determine Priorities: To decide what’s important.
  • Set Priorities: To establish what’s important.
  • Shift Priorities: To change what you consider important.

Tips for Using "Priority" Effectively:

  • Context is Key: The exact meaning of "priority" depends on the situation.
  • Pair it with "important," "urgent," or "crucial": Adding these words can make your meaning clearer. ("This is a crucial priority.")
  • Consider the contrast: Often, "priority" is used to show what isn't a priority. ("While customer service is important, responding to all emails immediately is not a priority.”)

Resources for Further Learning:

Would you like me to:

  • Give you more examples of how to use "priority" in a specific context (e.g., business, personal life)?
  • Help you practice using the word in a sentence?

Synonyms for the word priority

Practice with vocabulary priority

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. During a crisis, effective communication becomes a top _________ for public officials.
  2. The research team needs to _________ on analyzing the collected data to meet the publication deadline.
  3. For any growing startup, securing sufficient funding is often a critical _________ to ensure sustainability.
  4. It's important to establish clear _________ for each phase of the project to track progress effectively.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. To manage your workload effectively, it's crucial to establish clear _________. a) diversions b) ambiguities c) priorities d) optionalities

  2. Which of the following words can describe something of paramount importance that requires immediate attention? (Select all that apply) a) exigency b) priority c) triviality d) essential

  3. The board declared that reducing operational costs would be the company's main _________ for the upcoming fiscal year. a) tangent b) preference c) priority d) secondary concern

  4. Which word best describes the act of determining the order of importance for a set of tasks or activities? a) postpone b) delegate c) prioritize d) procrastinate

  5. The primary _________ of the new government policy is to improve educational outcomes across all districts. a) distraction b) objective c) impediment d) complication

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. It is absolutely necessary to put safety first in all our industrial operations.

    • Rewrite, using "priority":

  2. The most important thing for the marketing team right now is to increase online engagement.

    • Rewrite, using a related word form of "priority":

  3. The manager wanted to make sure everyone understood the main goals for the upcoming quarter.

    • Rewrite, without using "priority" or its related forms:

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. During a crisis, effective communication becomes a top priority for public officials.
  2. The research team needs to focus on analyzing the collected data to meet the publication deadline.
  3. For any growing startup, securing sufficient funding is often a critical priority to ensure sustainability.
  4. It's important to establish clear objectives for each phase of the project to track progress effectively.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. c) priorities
  2. a) exigency, b) priority, d) essential
  3. c) priority
  4. c) prioritize
  5. b) objective

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Safety must be our top priority in all our industrial operations.
  2. The marketing team must prioritize increasing online engagement right now.
  3. The manager wanted to make sure everyone understood the key objectives for the upcoming quarter.

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