prior commitment
Already promised elsewhere
A prior commitment is an obligation or promise made before a conflicting opportunity arises.
The phrase often serves as a polite excuse for declining invitations: I'd love to come, but I have a prior commitment.
Whether the commitment actually exists may be beside the point—the phrase signals unavailability without requiring explanation.
- obligationRequired task or commitment
- family obligationExpected service to relatives
- promiseCommitment to act
- appointmentScheduled time for something
- schedulePlan of timed events
engagement · raincheck · calendar · busy · unavailable · excuse · rain check · conflict · booking · reservation · pledge · duty · loyalty · tied up · decline · regret · previous · standing
- excusesexcuse, not my fault, overslept, alibi, excuses
- Goodbye excusesgotta go, gotta run, catch you later, see you later, running late
- scheduling termsASAP, appointment, meeting, booking, reservation
- Polite delaysexcuse me, one moment, just a minute, hold on, bear with me
- RSVP responsesyes, no, maybe, accept, decline
prior commitmentfree time
Unscheduled personal hours
availability · no obligations · wide open · no plans · blank slate
prior commitmentflexibility
Ability to adapt easily
freedom · no plans · spontaneity · unencumbered · at liberty
prior, commitment, priors, priory, priority, priorities, prioritize, prioritized, prioritizing