front burner

American  

noun

1. Informal. a condition or position of top priority.

   Put the project on the front burner and finish it as soon as possible.

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Other Word Forms

• front-burner adjective

Etymology

Origin of front burner

First recorded in 1965–70; by analogy with back burner

Example Sentences

At a meeting of senior EU member state officials on Sunday evening, the emphasis was on not rushing to decisions and keeping diplomacy with the White House on the front burner.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 19, 2026

I told him that this was on the front burner and that it would get appropriate attention.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 16, 2023

But then every time I went to visit him, it was like something that was on the back burner came to the front burner, and the reality smashed me in the face.

From Slate • May 23, 2023

“If we don’t keep it on the front burner, people will forget.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 11, 2022

He went to the stove and turned on the front burner under the coffeepot.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee