procrastinate

[proh-kras-tuh-neyt, pruh-]

verb (used without object), pro·cras·ti·nat·ed, pro·cras·ti·nat·ing.

to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.

verb (used with object), pro·cras·ti·nat·ed, pro·cras·ti·nat·ing.

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

Origin of procrastinate

1580–90; < Latin prōcrāstinātus (past participle of prōcrāstināre to put off until tomorrow, equivalent to prō- pro-¹ + -crāstināre, derivative of crāstinus of tomorrow; crās tomorrow + -tinus suffix forming adjectives from temporal adverbs); see -ate¹

Related formspro·cras·ti·nat·ing·ly, pro·cras·ti·na·tive·ly, adverbpro·cras·ti·na·tion, nounpro·cras·ti·na·tive, pro·cras·ti·na·to·ry

[proh-kras-tuh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee, pruh-] /proʊˈkræs tə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i, prə-/, adjectivepro·cras·ti·na·tive·ness, nounpro·cras·ti·na·tor, nouno·ver·pro·cras·ti·na·tion, nounun·pro·cras·ti·nat·ed, adjective

Synonyms for procrastinate

2. prolong, postpone.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for procrastinatory

procrastinate

verb

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

Derived Formsprocrastination, nounprocrastinator, noun

Word Origin for procrastinate

C16: from Latin prōcrāstināre to postpone until tomorrow, from pro- 1 + crās tomorrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for procrastinatory

procrastinate

1580s, a back formation from procrastination or else from Latin procrastinatus, past participle of procrastinare "to put off till tomorrow; defer, delay" (see procrastination). Related: Procrastinated; procrastinating. Earlier verb was procrastine (1540s), from French.