How do I prepend a value to the beginning of a Vim list option like path or runtimepath?

Explanation

Vim's :set command supports four operators for modifying list-type and string options: += (append), -= (remove), ^= (prepend), and = (replace). The ^= operator is the least commonly known — it adds a value to the front of the option rather than the back.

How it works

For string options (including comma-separated lists), :set {option}^={value} inserts the value at the beginning of the current option string. This is important when order matters:

• path — Vim searches directories in order, so prepending ensures your directory is checked first with gf and :find
• runtimepath — plugin/script directories loaded in order, so prepending guarantees early loading

For number options, ^= instead multiplies by the given value (the ^ represents power/exponentiation).

Example

Suppose path is currently set to .,/usr/include:

:set path^=./include

Now path becomes ./include,.,/usr/include. Vim will search ./include first when you use gf to open a file or :find to locate one.

Tips

• Use :set path? to check the current value before and after modifying it
• All four operators work the same way across list options: runtimepath, path, cdpath, tags, suffixes, etc.
• Combine ^= with :setlocal to prepend only for the current buffer: :setlocal path^=./src
• To remove a prepended value later, use :set path-=./include