change what we're focusing on first

reprioritize

verb|/ˌriː.praɪˈɔr.ə.taɪz/

To change the order of importance of tasks or goals

Examples

In a meeting

Given the client feedback, we need to reprioritize our roadmap for next quarter.

Over coffee

I had to reprioritize my weekend plans when my sister said she was visiting.

Why this word

reorganize

Reprioritize specifically refers to changing the order of importance, while reorganize broadly means rearranging structure without emphasis on priority ranking

rearrange

Rearrange only implies changing position or order, while reprioritize explicitly changes what matters most

adjust

Adjust is vague about what is being changed, while reprioritize specifically targets the hierarchy of importance

Usage tip

Use when the original priorities still exist but their order or emphasis needs adjustment, not when completely abandoning goals

Etymology

Latin re- (again) + prior (former, earlier) — literally to prioritize again

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