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

“What we find is that people did not mean to be on the sidelines. They procrastinate, or didn’t realize.”

From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026

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 • Jan. 28, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

"We can't wait, we can't procrastinate," he said, adding that Gazans across the territory were living in an "inhumane situation".

From Barron's • Jan. 15, 2026

They laughed, content to procrastinate doing their homework.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

Related Words

• dawdle
• hesitate