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to procrastinate

to procrastinate

26 6.5
To delay doing something you should do because you avoid it
  • verb
  • /prəˈkræstɪˌneɪt/
translation icon : procrastinar
  • Confronted with a large research project, students often become overwhelmed and procrastinate.
  • tendency to procrastinate
  • procrastinate on that task

The next time you catch yourself procrastinating, step one is forgive yourself.

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Examples

  • I often procrastinate my homework until the last minute, which always stresses me out.

  • Your post has inspired me to stop procrastinating and get on and do it!

    Blog text (2)
  • In fact, many people procrastinate because they care too much.

  • And yet I, I procrastinate too much.

  • I also do not procrastinate as much anymore.

    Academic text (2015)
  • I love to have a reason to procrastinate.

  • I have a tendency to procrastinate, but let's talk about that some other time.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • One important aspect of time management was the ability to overcome tendencies to procrastinate.

    Academic text (2004)
  • I need to stop procrastinating and clean this up because it's stressing me out.

  • If you're looking for a job, don't procrastinate responses to employers who want more information.

    Blog text (6)

Synonyms

to delay
vsto procrastinate
562 1.4

To make something happen later than planned

is specifically a repeated habit of putting off needed tasks unnecessarily
to stall
vsto procrastinate
166 4.3

To delay doing something on purpose to get more time

is less about strategic delay and more about unnecessary habitual putting off
to dawdle
vsto procrastinate
17 5.0

Move or act slowly and waste time, causing delay

focuses on an avoidant habit of postponing important tasks instead of slow movement
to defer
vsto procrastinate
  • Formal
15 5.5

To delay something until a later time

is usually an unnecessary habitual postponement rather than a planned deferment
to stall for time
vsto procrastinate
  • Informal
6 4.8

To delay doing something to get more time

is usually unintended habit-driven postponing rather than strategic time gaining
to dally
vsto procrastinate
4 7.7

To waste time by moving or acting slowly

is more about habitually putting off necessary actions rather than mere slowness
to mark time
vsto procrastinate
  • Informal
3 6.3

Spend time waiting without making progress, doing unproductive things

is active avoidance of tasks through habitual postponement rather than idle waiting
to temporize
vsto procrastinate
  • Formal
2 9.3

To delay making a decision to gain time or avoid conflict

is more about routine avoidance of tasks rather than avoiding confrontation
to dillydally
vsto procrastinate
  • Informal
1 8.3

To waste time by being slow or unsure about what to do

is a habitual unnecessary postponing of tasks that should be done
to dally too long
vsto procrastinate
7.0

To delay longer than you should and risk missing something

is broader, covering habitual postponing of needed work, not only lingering
to shillyshally
vsto procrastinate
  • Informal
9.9

Hesitate instead of deciding or acting quickly

is about repeatedly putting actions off as a routine rather than single hesitation
to drag one's feet
vsto procrastinate
  • Informal
5.5

To be slow on purpose because you do not want to do something

is more about habitual avoidance and not only reluctant slowness
to drag one's heels
vsto procrastinate
  • Informal
7.5

To delay doing something because you do not want to do it

is broader, involving habitual postponing of tasks rather than deliberate obstruction
to hang an arse
vsto procrastinate
  • Offensive
9.9

To waste time instead of working

is a broader pattern of putting off duties rather than merely being idle

Antonyms

1.0

Take action to deal with a problem or situation

1.0

To finish something or make it whole

12 4.6

Make something happen sooner

How Soon

to delay
562 1.4
to postpone
234 3.4
to put off
113 2.9
to stall
166 4.3
to procrastinate
26 6.5

Surface Forms

procrastinate infinitive
procrastinated past participle
procrastinating present participle
procrastinates third person singular

Morphology

procrastinate = procrastin + ate

Although the verb contains recognisable-looking elements, its components are not productive English morphemes learners can use to infer 'delay', so the meaning is not derivable from its parts.

Etymology

Procrastinate comes from Latin parts pro- ('forward') and crastinus (from cras, 'tomorrow'), so it literally means 'putting off until tomorrow'. That's why to procrastinate is to delay doing something you should do now.