37 Other Ways to Say ‘Low Priority’

37 Other Ways to Say “Low Priority” reminds you that not every task needs your immediate attention. In a world where task prioritization defines success, knowing how to phrase delays gracefully can make your professional communication shine. Sometimes you simply need to signal that a task is not urgent without sounding dismissive or careless.

Mastering alternative expressions helps maintain harmony in project management and workplace productivity. Whether you’re writing an email, managing workloads, or updating schedules, using the right wording ensures your time management sounds polite yet firm. Let’s dive into creative, professional ways to say “low priority” with clarity and confidence.

On the Back Burner

You might tell your team:

Hi Maria,
I’m moving the upgrade of the marketing toolkit on the back burner while we handle the urgent Q4 launch. We’ll revisit it once we’ve secured the new vendor contracts.
In this scenario you’re signalling that this task is still part of the plan, but not among your immediate work priorities. You’re practising good task prioritization by shifting your resource allocation to more urgent matters.
Here, the project isn’t cancelled — it’s simply delayed with deliberate intent.

Not Urgent

Picture this email:

Good morning Tom,
The review of the archival files is not urgent and can be scheduled next week after our current audit. Let’s defer it until then.
By stating “not urgent,” you’re making clear the importance and urgency are lower. In your task management system you’re signalling a item that can wait without affecting workflow optimization. It keeps the workload management aligned with your immediate deliverables.

Take a Backseat

Imagine you’re a project lead writing:

Hi Amara,
Given the tight deadlines for the product launch, the UX redesign will take a backseat until we stabilise the release. We’ll re-prioritise it afterward.
This phrase shows you’re actively reordering business priorities and practising strategic planning. You’re managing managing priorities by temporarily lowering emphasis on something that’s still on the radar.

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Lower on the To-Do List

In an internal memo:

Team,
Updating the internal wiki is lower on the to-do list than finalising the budget figures. We’ll fit it in once those figures are locked.
This is a clear time management and task scheduling move. You’re mapping your task hierarchy: high-impact tasks first, then those of lower significance. It keeps the team focused on work efficiency and real-world outcomes.

Can Wait

To a colleague:

Hello Sam,
That design tweak can wait until after our customer feedback session. Let’s pick it up next week.
This casual phrasing signals a more relaxed step in project management. It’s a flexible approach to delaying projects in favour of more urgent work, helping with workplace productivity and avoiding bottlenecks.

Secondary Concern

In a board-meeting email:

Dear Board,
While employee ergonomics remain important, it’s a secondary concern compared to securing the new client pipeline this quarter. We’ll revisit ergonomics next year.
Here you’re acknowledging something valid yet deeming it lower in rank relative to your current strategic needs. This is about organizational planning, reallocation of resources, and balancing operational focus.

Put on Hold

To your stakeholders:

Hi All,
We’ve put on hold the expansion of the regional office until we finalise the new lease negotiations. I’ll update you once we’re ready to resume.
This communicates a temporary halt in the process, which is a deliberate move within project timelines, not abandonment. It’s about resource allocation and workload management in shifting conditions.

Not Top of the Agenda

During meeting preparation:

Team,
Updating the vendor compliance checklist is not top of the agenda this month; our immediate priority is the system migration. We’ll handle the checklist next quarter.
This helps you clarify meeting agenda priorities and guide effective communication. It signals certain items are valid but not the immediate focus.

For Later Consideration

In a strategic memo:

Hi Jordan,
The idea of launching a loyalty app is excellent but is earmarked for later consideration after we stabilise our direct-to-consumer channel. Let’s revisit it further down the line.
By saying “for later consideration” you create a clear intention to act — just not in the immediate window. This helps support long-term planning, flexible scheduling, and planning and execution across time horizons.

On Ice

Internal update:

Hey Team,
Given current market volatility, the investment in new hardware is on ice until we see clearer projections. We’ll resume once the picture stabilises.
This phrase is often used in business contexts to mark a delayed project under uncertain conditions. It shows you’re managing project delays intentionally, guarding your business strategy and avoiding premature resource commitment.

Sideline

Email to development:

Dear Dev Team,
We’re going to sideline the mobile-app version for now and channel our efforts into the web platform. The mobile build remains on the roadmap though.
Here, you’re reallocating your priorities, shifting attention away from a task in favour of another, which aligns with balancing priorities and workflow optimization. It’s a clear sign you’re practising conscious task prioritization.

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In the Pipeline

Project update note:

Hi All,
Several enhancements are in the pipeline, but they’re lower priority and we’ll address them once the major release is deployed.
This phrasing indicates these tasks are scheduled for future action — they’re not immediate. It ties into task scheduling and future consideration, and ensures your workplace productivity remains disciplined.

Postponed Task

To your assistant:

Hey Linda,
The graphic-refresh is a postponed task until we confirm the brand guidelines. Let’s park it for now and revisit once guidelines are live.
Here, you’re explicitly acknowledging the deferral of action. By framing it as a “postponed task” you’re keeping visibility while signalling it’s no longer urgent. This supports strong prioritization techniques and good time management.

Delayed Project

Board communication:

Dear Board,
The Western-Region rollout has become a delayed project due to supply-chain constraints. We’ll share a revised timeline early next quarter.
In this usage you’re signalling more than just low priority — you’re acknowledging significant external factors affecting the schedule. It’s a matter of realistic project management, dealing with project delays and resetting expectations.

Non-Urgent Issue

Team bulletin:

Hello Everyone,
The inventory-audit discrepancy is a non-urgent issue and we’ll address it after this week’s system upgrade. It doesn’t pose immediate risk.
This phrase helps you set boundaries around urgency and importance, making clear that the matter can be addressed without undermining work efficiency or causing undue stress.

Deprioritized Task

Project manager to team:

Hi Dev Team,
The feature-flag integration has been deprioritized in favour of the bug-fix backlog. We’ll return to it later once backlog is cleared.
You’re making an active decision to lower the task’s priority. This shows you’re practising resource allocation smartly and managing workload management strategically.

Future Consideration

To senior leaders:

Dear Leaders,
*The initiative for AI-driven analytics is *for future consideration after we stabilise current operations. Let’s revisit it mid-next year.
You are planning ahead, carving out time for strategic thought. It links to long-term planning, organizational planning, and maintaining focus and attention on evolving priorities.

Waiting List Tasks

To operations team:

Team,
The re-carpet project is now on our waiting list tasks queue. We’ll schedule once the space is vacant and current maintenance is done.
This phrasing makes clear the work is recognised and logged, but not actionable immediately. It helps you capture tasks while respecting task hierarchy and easing workflow optimization.

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Temporary Delay

Update to marketing:

Hi Marketing,
The photo-shoot for the new campaign is under temporary delay because of the weather forecast. We’ll resume once conditions improve.
Here you’re describing a time-bound pause. It demonstrates good time management and delay for evaluation, showing you’re adapting to circumstances rather than losing focus.

Deferred Action

Email to finance:

Good afternoon Len,
We’ll take deferred action on the vendor audit until after the year-end close. I’ll keep you posted when we pick it up.
“Deferred action” signals a conscious decision to postpone a measure. In the realm of project management, it helps retain visibility while realigning business priorities and maximising performance management.

Secondary Task

To your assistant:

Hi Ruth,
Filing the annual charity compliance form is a secondary task compared to finalising the sales deck. Let’s circle back to it once the deck is ready.
Here you’re indicating a lower level of urgency yet acknowledging its importance. This supports prioritizing tasks, organisational planning, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

Future Plan

Strategy memo:

Team,
The innovation lab expansion is a future plan after we complete the current infrastructure upgrade. Let’s target next fiscal year.
This phrasing is ideal for strategic planning and long-term planning, helping your team map the trajectory of project timelines and align resource allocation for what’s ahead.

Not Immediate Focus

Internal communication:

Hi All,
The redesign of our client-portal login screen is not immediate focus now. Let’s channel our energy into the UX audit first.
You’re clarifying the focus and attention you expect now vs. later. This supports workplace productivity by making clear what currently drives the workload.

Delayed for Now

Project update:

Dear Partners,
We have delayed for now the rollout of the mobile-wallet module until we complete vendor certification. We’ll refresh timing when ready.
This phrase signals a short-term postponement. It shows you’re actively managing project delays, plotting a path forward even if details remain fluid.

Pending Activity

Team note:

Hi Team,
The audit reconciliation is a pending activity currently awaiting receipt of the final ledger. I’ll alert when it’s ready to proceed.
This acknowledges the task is recognised and planned; you’re just waiting for prerequisites. It’s a strong move in workflow optimization and scheduling tasks, reducing ambiguity for your team.

Less Pressing Matter

Email to HR:

Hello HR Team,
The staff-holiday sign-up form is a less pressing matter until we finish the remuneration review. We’ll distribute it once that’s done.
This phrase softens the message of postponement while preserving respect for the task. It’s good for professional communication, keeping morale high even when something is not urgent.

Awaiting Review

To a department lead:

Hi Carlos,
The draft Q3 report is awaiting review by the finance committee. Once that’s done we’ll move it into production.
“Awaiting review” shows the task is sequentially paused. It ties into project management, task management, and ensures operational focus stays on what’s currently actionable.

Rescheduled Priority

Project memo:

Team,
The migration of legacy data has become a rescheduled priority — we’ll run it after the network upgrade. I’ll update the timeline later today.
Here you’re signalling that the priority has shifted and been re-scheduled. This is part of task scheduling, reallocation of resources, and managing managing workloads dynamically.

Reduced Importance

Communication to stakeholders:

Dear Stakeholders,
We’ve assigned reduced importance to the optional branding refresh while we concentrate on the compliance rollout. We’ll revisit when compliance is stable.
This phrasing is gentle yet clear. It emphasises that something matters less now but remains valid. It’s about balancing priorities and ensuring your operational focus aligns with current demands.

Postponed Until Later

Internal bulletin:

Hi Everyone,
The team-offsite is postponed until later in the year due to travel constraints. We’ll propose new dates once conference logistics are finalised.
This statement acknowledges delay due to external factors and shows intent to revisit. It supports planning and execution, flexible scheduling, and preserves the initiative in your project timelines.

Waiting for Better Timing

To your board:

Dear Board,
We’re waiting for better timing to launch the regional pilot given current market headwinds. We’ll re-assess in Q2.
This phrase shows strategic patience. You’re aligning your business strategy, watching indicators, and staging for when you can act with maximum impact.

Focus Shift

Email to the team:

Hi Team,
There’s been a focus shift away from the mobile-feature rollout and toward stabilising our web platform. We’ll pick up the mobile effort once stability improves.
You’re clearly articulating that your focus and attention has moved. This ties directly to workflow optimization, managing priorities, and ensuring resources follow your immediate strategy.

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Strategic Delay

Board note:

Dear Board,
We’ll enact a strategic delay on the equipment upgrade until supplier innovation matures. The decision aligns with our long-term cost-effectiveness plan.
This is a high-level phrasing and emphasises strategic planning, long-term planning, and the deliberate deferring action of tasks to align with overall vision.

Minor Concern

Team memo:

Hi Team,
The wallpaper change for the office is a minor concern compared to rolling out the new ERP system. We’ll address it once the ERP go-live is smooth.
Here, you’re signalling modest priority. That decision helps with task management, work efficiency, and ensures nothing distracting pulls attention from the big deliverables.

Temporarily Paused

To project leads:

Team,
The dataset migration is temporarily paused because of inconsistent inputs. We’ll resume once cleansing is complete.
This is a precise status: you’re not cancelling the task, just pausing it. It supports clear performance management, avoids confusion and keeps the team aligned.

Not the Main Focus

To a stakeholder:

Hi Alex,
The design refresh is not the main focus right now. We must prioritise the compliance update first. We’ll revisit the design once that’s settled.
Here you’re withdrawing immediate attention from a task without ignoring it. You’re indicating that your workplace productivity hinges on smart choices about where to direct effort.

Lower Significance

Internal communication:

Dear All,
We’ve assigned lower significance to the optional dashboard widgets while we finalise the core analytics. We’ll pick up the widgets afterward.
This phrasing is subtle and polite. It maintains respect for the task but clarifies that other items lead your schedule. It improves task prioritization, organizational planning, and ensures your team remains efficient.

Summary Table of Synonyms

Expression
On the back burner
Not urgent
Take a backseat
Lower on the to-do list
Can wait
Secondary concern
Put on hold
Not top of the agenda
For later consideration
On ice
Sideline
In the pipeline
Postponed task
Delayed project
Non-urgent issue
Deprioritized task
Future consideration
Waiting list tasks
Temporary delay
Deferred action
Secondary task
Future plan
Not immediate focus
Delayed for now
Pending activity
Less pressing matter
Awaiting review
Rescheduled priority
Reduced importance
Postponed until later
Waiting for better timing
Focus shift
Strategic delay
Minor concern
Temporarily paused
Not the main focus
Lower significance

FAQs

Can I use “low priority” alternatives in formal business emails?

Yes, you can use them to maintain professional communication while sounding more tactful and polite.

How do I decide when to label a task as low priority?

Use task prioritization and assess its importance and urgency before labeling it.

Are these phrases suitable for project updates?

Absolutely, they’re perfect for project management reports or meeting agendas.

Do these alternatives help improve workplace relationships?

Yes, clear and respectful phrasing enhances effective communication and team collaboration.

Can “low priority” phrases prevent misunderstandings at work?

Yes, using precise terms helps clarify work priorities and reduces confusion in scheduling tasks.

Conclusion

37 Other Ways to Say “Low Priority” teaches you how to communicate effectively while keeping your work priorities clear. It’s all about balancing urgency, tone, and respect in professional communication.

By using thoughtful expressions, you can manage task management with tact and keep workflow optimization smooth. These alternatives help you sound professional, not dismissive, ensuring better collaboration and stronger workplace productivity across every project.