procrastinate

American  

[proh-kras-tuh-neyt, pruh-] / proʊˈkræs təˌneɪt, prə- /

verb (used without object)

procrastinated, procrastinating

1. to defer action; delay.

   to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.

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verb (used with object)

procrastinated, procrastinating

1. to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.

   Synonyms:

   postpone, prolong

procrastinate British  

/ prə-, prəʊˈkræstɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. (usually intr) to put off or defer (an action) until a later time; delay

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Other Word Forms

• overprocrastination noun
• procrastinatingly adverb
• procrastination noun
• procrastinative adjective
• procrastinatively adverb
• procrastinativeness noun
• procrastinator noun
• procrastinatory adjective
• unprocrastinated adjective

Etymology

Origin of procrastinate

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin prōcrāstinātus, past participle of prōcrāstināre “to put off until tomorrow,” from prō- pro- ¹ + -crāstināre, derivative of crāstinus “of tomorrow” (from crās “tomorrow” + -tinus, adjective suffix)

Example Sentences

It’s one thing to study and write about later life; it’s quite another to live it and see things I wish I had done differently or, in particular, hadn’t procrastinated about.

From The Wall Street Journal

It's usually because I'm bored, or I'm procrastinating.

From Salon

So I’m just curious how you think about that idea, that often, if we just sort of procrastinate and do nothing, the market is able to kind of unwind some of these more anti-competitive situations.

From New York Times

If you’re traveling internationally this summer, don’t procrastinate on getting your passport in order.

From Washington Post

Like present bias, this tendency can cause people to procrastinate on financial goals.

From New York Times

Related Words

• dawdle
• hesitate