A priority is something that matters more than other things and deserves your attention first. When your teacher says that finishing your homework is a priority, she means it should come before playing video games or watching TV. When a hospital treats patients, emergencies are the top priority because lives are at stake.

The word comes from being prior, or first in importance. Think of it like a ranking system: if you have three things to do today, your priorities are the ones at the top of your list. A student might make studying for tomorrow's math test a priority over reorganizing her desk, even though both need doing eventually.

People often talk about setting priorities or getting your priorities straight, which means figuring out what truly matters most. A firefighter's priority is saving lives, not saving furniture. A scientist working on a cure for a disease makes research her priority, sometimes working late nights because the goal matters so much.

You can also use prioritize as a verb: “I need to prioritize my weekend chores so I finish the important ones first.” When something becomes a priority, it moves to the front of the line in your plans and efforts. Learning to recognize your priorities and act on them is a valuable skill that helps you accomplish what matters most.