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

And one of the big success stories for defaults is the automatic enrolment in pension schemes, because many of us procrastinate saving for retirement.

From BBC

They might procrastinate, struggle to finish projects or seem unable to manage basic tasks.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The police and crime commissioner prevaricated, procrastinated, refused to get rid of Mr Guildford when it was quite clear that that was the only route possible," Silverman said.

From BBC

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

“I told you to have this done yesterday. Stop procrastinating and get it done now.”

From Literature

Related Words

• dawdle
• hesitate