mengutamakan

Mengutamakan is an Indonesian verb that means to give priority to something or to treat it as more important than other considerations. It conveys the act of placing a particular factor, value, or need above others in decision making, planning, or actions. The term is commonly used in both everyday language and formal discourse to describe how resources, time, or attention should be allocated.

Etymology and grammar notes: mengutamakan is formed from the root utama (main, principal) with the prefix me- and the suffix -kan, producing a transitive verb. It typically takes a noun phrase as its direct object, indicating what is being prioritized. Examples include: Pemerintah mengutamakan keselamatan publik (The government prioritizes public safety); Perusahaan mengutamakan kualitas produk (The company prioritizes product quality); Saya mengutamakan keluarga (I prioritize my family).

Usage and synonyms: a closely related term is memprioritaskan, which also means to prioritize and is often used in more formal or policy-oriented contexts. The nuance of mengutamakan is a normative emphasis on what should be considered more important, whereas memprioritaskan highlights the act of assigning priority, especially in planning or resource allocation.

Context and style: mengutamakan appears in policy documents, strategic planning, budgeting, ethics discussions, and journalism when describing priorities. It is suitable for both written and spoken Indonesian and can be paired with phrases such as prioritas utama or kebutuhan mendesak to strengthen its meaning.