In 15 Seconds
- Deciding one task is more important than others.
- Always use the preposition 'to' after the phrase.
- Used in work, apps, and personal life decisions.
- Active choice: You are the one ranking the items.
Meaning
When you give priority to something, you decide it is the most important thing to deal with first. It is like putting one task at the front of the line while everything else waits. It signals that this specific thing has more value or urgency than other competing options.
Key Examples
3 of 10At the office
We need to give priority to the client's feedback before we finalize the design.
نحن بحاجة إلى إعطاء الأولوية لملاحظات العميل قبل أن ننتهي من التصميم.
Texting a friend about plans
I’m sorry I can’t hang out; I have to give priority to finishing my essay tonight.
أنا آسف لأنني لا أستطيع الخروج؛ يجب علي إعطاء الأولوية لإنهاء مقالي الليلة.
Instagram caption about self-care
This year, I'm learning to give priority to my own peace of mind.
هذا العام، أتعلم إعطاء الأولوية لسلامي النفسي.
Cultural Background
In the UK, 'giving priority' is a core part of driving etiquette and 'queuing' culture. Not giving priority to someone who has the right of way is considered extremely rude. Priority is often given based on seniority and social status. In business meetings, the most senior person's opinion is given priority over others. The US culture often gives priority to 'the individual' and 'efficiency'. Time is money, so priority is given to whatever saves time. Rules and regulations are given high priority. Following the established process is often more important than personal relationships in a professional setting.
Use 'Top Priority'
If something is extremely urgent, say 'give top priority to'. It sounds very professional and decisive.
The 'To' Trap
Never forget the 'to'. Saying 'give priority the project' is a very common mistake that marks you as a non-native speaker.
In 15 Seconds
- Deciding one task is more important than others.
- Always use the preposition 'to' after the phrase.
- Used in work, apps, and personal life decisions.
- Active choice: You are the one ranking the items.
What It Means
Ever tried to download a huge game update while simultaneously trying to stream a 4K movie on Netflix? Your router has to make a choice. It has to give priority to one of those data streams, or they’ll both lag and ruin your night. In our human lives, we do this constantly, even if we don't use the fancy words for it. Choosing to call your mom back instead of scrolling through TikTok is you giving priority to family over entertainment. It’s the art of triage in a world that wants everything from you all at once.
What It Means
At its core, give priority is about ranking. Life isn't a flat line; it's a pyramid. When you give priority to something, you are placing it at the very top of that pyramid. This phrase carries a bit of weight and intentionality. It’s not just something that happens by accident. It’s a conscious decision to say, "This matters most right now." While a dictionary might just say it means "treating something as more important," native speakers use it to describe a shift in focus. It often implies that something else—the "low priority" stuff—is going to have to wait its turn in the lobby. It’s the difference between saying "I’ll do this" and "I’ll do this *above all else*."
How To Use It
Grammar-wise, this is a very loyal phrase—it almost always hangs out with the preposition to. The standard formula is: give priority to + [Noun or Gerund]. For example, "You should give priority to your health." If you’re using a verb after it, remember to add -ing. You don't "give priority to finish"; you give priority to finishing. It’s a transitive phrase, meaning it needs an object. You can’t just say "I gave priority." Your friend will immediately ask, "To what?" You can also dress it up with adjectives: give top priority to or give high priority to. It’s like adding a "High Urgency" sticker to a package. Just don't overdo the adjectives, or you'll sound like a corporate robot trying to impress a manager!
Real-Life Examples
Think about the apps you use every day. If you order food on Uber Eats and pay that extra dollar for "Priority Delivery," you are literally paying the app to give priority to your burger. In the world of social media, Instagram's algorithm gives priority to Reels right now because they want to compete with TikTok. If you’re a gamer, you might give priority to upgrading your GPU over buying new games. Even in the dating world, if someone doesn't text you back for three days, they probably aren't giving priority to your conversation. Ouch, right? But hey, at least now you can describe your heartbreak with perfect B2-level English collocations!
When To Use It
This phrase is a powerhouse in professional settings. In a job interview on Zoom, you might say, "In my last role, I had to give priority to customer satisfaction over speed." It shows you’re a strategic thinker. It’s also great for personal boundaries. When your friend asks you to go out but you have a big exam, you say, "I’d love to, but I have to give priority to my studies tonight." It sounds more mature and firm than just saying "I'm busy." Use it whenever there’s a conflict of interest and you’ve made a clear choice. It’s also used in government and news, like "The city is giving priority to repairing the main bridge."
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for tiny, insignificant choices unless you're being funny. If you're at a buffet and you choose the mac and cheese over the salad, saying "I am giving priority to the carbs" sounds a bit dramatic (though hilariously accurate). Also, avoid using it when there’s no competition. If you only have one thing to do, you can't really give it priority. Priority implies a choice between at least two things. If you're just doing a task, just say "I'm doing it." Also, don't confuse it with take priority. If something takes priority, it happens automatically because of its importance. If you give priority, *you* are the one making the active choice.
Common Mistakes
One of the biggest traps is using the wrong verb. You don't "make priority" or "do priority." It’s always give. Another mistake is forgetting the to.
gave priority to the project.
give priority to sleep.
Another sneaky error is using the wrong preposition. People often try to use "on" or "for," but to is the gold standard here. Think of it like giving a gift—you give a gift *to* someone, and you give priority *to* something.
Similar Expressions
If you want to mix it up, you can use prioritize, which is the one-word verb version. It’s a bit more "business-casual." Then there’s put first, which is very common and friendly: "I always put my family first." For something more formal, you might hear accord priority to or assign priority to, though those are usually reserved for official documents or very serious meetings. If something is so important it pushes everything else aside, we say it takes precedence. That’s a fancy way of saying it wins the "who goes first" contest every single time.
Common Variations
As mentioned, you can change the intensity. Give top priority is the most common. It means this thing is the king of your To-Do list. Give absolute priority is even stronger—it means nothing else matters until this is done. You might also hear give low priority to, which is a polite way of saying "I’ll get to this in about three years when I’m bored." In British English, you might see give priority to used in traffic signs, where one road has the right of way over another. So, if you're driving in London, keep an eye out, or you might give priority to a brick wall by accident!
Memory Trick
Think of Priority Mail. When you send a letter via Priority Mail, the post office literally gives priority to your envelope. It gets its own special bin and moves faster than the regular mail. Whenever you need to use this phrase, imagine yourself as a postal worker, slapping a bright red "PRIORITY" sticker on the task you're talking about. You are giving that sticker to the task. Give -> Priority -> To. It’s a delivery service for your focus!
Quick FAQ
Is prioritize the same as give priority to? Mostly, yes. Prioritize is a bit more modern and concise, while give priority to feels a bit more descriptive of the action. Can I give priority to a person? Absolutely. "I need to give priority to my kids this weekend" is a very common and natural thing to say. Is it formal? It's neutral-to-formal. You can use it with your boss or with your best friend without sounding weird in either case. Just remember that to and you'll be the priority of every conversation!
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral but leans toward professional or intentional contexts. The most important 'gotcha' is the preposition 'to' followed by a noun or gerund. Avoid using it for extremely trivial choices unless for comedic effect.
Use 'Top Priority'
If something is extremely urgent, say 'give top priority to'. It sounds very professional and decisive.
The 'To' Trap
Never forget the 'to'. Saying 'give priority the project' is a very common mistake that marks you as a non-native speaker.
Softening the Blow
If you have to tell someone their task isn't important, say 'We can't give priority to this right now, but we will look at it later.' It's more polite than saying 'This isn't important.'
Examples
10We need to give priority to the client's feedback before we finalize the design.
نحن بحاجة إلى إعطاء الأولوية لملاحظات العميل قبل أن ننتهي من التصميم.
Focuses on professional workflow and deadlines.
I’m sorry I can’t hang out; I have to give priority to finishing my essay tonight.
أنا آسف لأنني لا أستطيع الخروج؛ يجب علي إعطاء الأولوية لإنهاء مقالي الليلة.
Uses the 'to + -ing' form correctly.
This year, I'm learning to give priority to my own peace of mind.
هذا العام، أتعلم إعطاء الأولوية لسلامي النفسي.
Modern context of wellness and boundaries.
The CEO has asked us to give top priority to the new app launch.
طلب منا المدير التنفيذي إعطاء الأولوية القصوى لإطلاق التطبيق الجديد.
Includes the adjective 'top' for emphasis.
The hospital must give priority to emergency cases over routine check-ups.
يجب على المستشفى إعطاء الأولوية للحالات الطارئة على الفحوصات الروتينية.
Classic 'triage' scenario.
If he doesn't give priority to our dates, I'm moving on.
إذا لم يعط الأولوية لمواعيدنا، فسوف أمضي قدماً.
Casual relationship context.
I told my trainer I give priority to pizza, and he didn't find it funny.
أخبرت مدربي أنني أعطي الأولوية للبيتزا، ولم يجد الأمر مضحكاً.
Using a formal phrase for a silly context.
✗ I will make priority to the report. → ✓ I will give priority to the report.
✗ سأجعل الأولوية للتقرير. → ✓ سأعطي الأولوية للتقرير.
Correction of the 'make' vs 'give' error.
✗ The app gives priority the fastest drivers. → ✓ The app gives priority to the fastest drivers.
✗ التطبيق يعطي الأولوية أسرع السائقين. → ✓ التطبيق يعطي الأولوية لأسرع السائقين.
Correction of the missing preposition.
We should give priority to video content since the algorithm loves it.
يجب أن نعطي الأولوية لمحتوى الفيديو لأن الخوارزمية تحبه.
Modern digital marketing context.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition and verb form.
The company decided to give priority ___ (upgrade) their security systems.
We use 'to' + the gerund (-ing) form after 'give priority'.
Which sentence is the most natural in a business context?
Select the best option:
This sentence uses the correct collocation and appropriate formal register.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
A: We have too many projects and not enough time! B: I know. We need to ________ the ones that will make us the most money.
This is the standard collocation for deciding which project to do first.
Match the situation to the correct use of 'give priority'.
Situation: You are driving and see an ambulance with lights flashing.
In traffic, emergency vehicles always receive priority.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs Informal
Practice Bank
4 exercisesThe company decided to give priority ___ (upgrade) their security systems.
We use 'to' + the gerund (-ing) form after 'give priority'.
Select the best option:
This sentence uses the correct collocation and appropriate formal register.
A: We have too many projects and not enough time! B: I know. We need to ________ the ones that will make us the most money.
This is the standard collocation for deciding which project to do first.
Situation: You are driving and see an ambulance with lights flashing.
In traffic, emergency vehicles always receive priority.
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, they mean the same thing. 'Prioritize' is a verb, while 'give priority to' is a noun-based collocation. The latter is often used in more formal or official contexts.
Usually, no. 'Priority' is uncountable here. You only use 'a' if you are referring to one specific item in a list: 'This is a priority for us.'
You can say 'give low priority to' or use the idiom 'put on the back burner'.
It is always 'to'. Using 'for' is a common mistake.
Yes, you can give priority to a person, meaning you deal with them or help them before others.
Use the -ing form: 'give priority to *buying* a house'.
It is neutral to formal. It's perfect for work, but might sound a bit stiff with friends.
In traffic, yes. 'Giving priority' means letting the person with the right of way go first.
Yes, 'high', 'top', and 'low' are common adjectives used with priority.
Yes, it is used in all major varieties of English, including American, British, and Australian.
Related Phrases
take precedence over
synonymTo be more important than something else.
first things first
similarAn idiom used to say that the most important thing should be done now.
put on the back burner
contrastTo give something low priority and deal with it later.
top of the list
similarThe most important item.
