diff --git src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
index 7701967..f5ecc33 100644
--- src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/dashboard.php
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ function wp_dashboard_setup() {
  * 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 @@ function wp_dashboard_setup() {
  * @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 'normal'.
+ * @param string   $priority         Optional. The priority within the context where the boxes
+ *                                   should show ('high', 'low'). Default 'core'.
  */
-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 = 'normal', $priority = 'core' ) {
 	$screen = get_current_screen();
 	global $wp_dashboard_control_callbacks;
 
@@ -173,16 +182,22 @@ function wp_add_dashboard_widget( $widget_id, $widget_name, $callback, $control_
 
 	$side_widgets = array( 'dashboard_quick_press', 'dashboard_primary' );
 
-	$location = 'normal';
 	if ( in_array( $widget_id, $side_widgets ) ) {
 		$location = 'side';
 	}
 
-	$priority = 'core';
 	if ( 'dashboard_browser_nag' === $widget_id ) {
 		$priority = 'high';
 	}
 
+	if ( is_null( $location ) ) {
+		$location = 'normal';
+	}
+
+	if ( is_null( $priority ) ) {
+		$priority = 'core';
+	}
+
 	add_meta_box( $widget_id, $widget_name, $callback, $screen, $location, $priority, $callback_args );
 }