Salinization is one of the greatest threats in agriculture field limiting the growth and productivity of crops. Soil salinization directly affects the physiological, biochemical, and molecular functions of plants. The Plants adopt various tolerance mechanisms to combat salinity stress by involving complex physiological traits, metabolic pathways, and molecular or gene networks. Various techniques have been used to improve plant growth and productivity through genetic approach, genetic engineering and plant breeding. However, economic feasibility and ease of application can create a huge scope for priming techniques as a “stress reliever” in agricultural crop production. Seed priming is a simple, low-cost technique that enhances germination and seedling establishment by activating various physiological and metabolic processes. Priming regulates molecular mechanisms through increased expression of various stress related genes and proteins, which accelerates stress and cross tolerance. Priming memory and epigenetic changes enables the plants to withstand salinity stress by alterations in key signaling molecules, transcription factors, and change in chromatin states, that will be crucial for the second stress. In this way, priming can both mediate stress tolerance and initiate overarching stress tolerance to a wide range of stresses that further modify gene expression and enhance crop production. This review paper addresses some physiochemical, molecular and trans-generational mechanisms regulating plant adaptation and tolerance/cross tolerance to salinity in primed seeds/seedlings. •Seed priming is the state of readiness which keep plants in an alert mode.•Seed priming is a cost effective strategy and thus reduces the energy expenditure during stress condition.•Cis and trans/cross priming are effective for developing tolerance against salinity.•Seed priming induces different defense mechanisms in seeds/seedlings against salinity stress.•Seed priming activates priming memory and results in trans-generational memory.