Index: wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
===================================================================
--- wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php	(revision 42702)
+++ wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php	(working copy)
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@
  * Adds a new dashboard widget.
  *
  * @since 2.7.0
+ * @since 4.9.5 added the location and priority arguments
  *
  * @global array $wp_dashboard_control_callbacks
  *
@@ -146,8 +147,16 @@
  * @param callable $control_callback Optional. Function that outputs controls for the widget. Default null.
  * @param array    $callback_args    Optional. Data that should be set as the $args property of the widget array
  *                                   (which is the second parameter passed to your callback). Default null.
+ * @param string   $context 		 Optional. The context within the screen where the boxes
+ *                                   should display. Available contexts vary from screen to
+ *                                   screen. Post edit screen contexts include 'normal', 'side',
+ *                                   and 'advanced'. Comments screen contexts include 'normal'
+ *                                   and 'side'. Menus meta boxes (accordion sections) all use
+ *                                   the 'side' context. Default 'default'.
+ * @param string   $priority         Optional. The priority within the context where the boxes
+ *                                   should show ('high', 'low'). Default 'default'.
  */
-function wp_add_dashboard_widget( $widget_id, $widget_name, $callback, $control_callback = null, $callback_args = null ) {
+function wp_add_dashboard_widget( $widget_id, $widget_name, $callback, $control_callback = null, $callback_args = null, $location = 'default', $priority = 'default' ) {
 	$screen = get_current_screen();
 	global $wp_dashboard_control_callbacks;
 
@@ -173,14 +182,18 @@
 
 	$side_widgets = array( 'dashboard_quick_press', 'dashboard_primary' );
 
-	$location = 'normal';
-	if ( in_array( $widget_id, $side_widgets ) ) {
-		$location = 'side';
+	if ( $location === 'default' ) {
+		$location = 'normal';
+		if ( in_array( $widget_id, $side_widgets ) ) {
+			$location = 'side';
+		}
 	}
 
-	$priority = 'core';
-	if ( 'dashboard_browser_nag' === $widget_id ) {
-		$priority = 'high';
+	if ( $priority === 'default' ) {
+		$priority = 'core';
+		if ( 'dashboard_browser_nag' === $widget_id ) {
+			$priority = 'high';
+		}
 	}
 
 	add_meta_box( $widget_id, $widget_name, $callback, $screen, $location, $priority, $callback_args );