/ praɪˈɒrəti; NAmE -ˈɔːr-; -ˈɑːr-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ C ] something that you think is more important than other things and should be dealt with first :
a high / low priority
Education is a top priority .
Our first priority is to improve standards.
Financial security was high on his list of priorities .
You need to get your priorities right (= decide what is important to you) .
( NAmE )
You need to get your priorities straight .
2.
[ U ] priority (over sth) the most important place among various things that have to be done or among a group of people
SYN precedence :
Club members will be given priority .
The search for a new vaccine will take priority over all other medical research.
Priority cases, such as homeless families, get dealt with first.
3.
[ U ] ( BrE ) the right of a vehicle to go before other traffic at a particular place on a road
SYN right of way :
Buses have priority at this junction.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (denoting precedence in time or rank): from Old French priorite , from medieval Latin prioritas , from Latin prior former, related to prae before.