What does procrastinate mean?
Procrastinate means to delay doing something until a later time, especially when the task ought to be completed sooner. The word commonly describes avoidable postponement, such as putting off a report, postponing a reply, or repeatedly putting off a decision. It can be used in neutral descriptions of ordinary behaviour, as in “He procrastinated over the application,” but it often implies fault: procrastination can involve uncertainty, poor planning, lack of motivation, or a preference for avoiding an unpleasant task. The related noun procrastination names the behaviour or habit itself, while a procrastinator is a person who delays action. In formal writing, procrastinate is often used to describe institutional or governmental delay, whereas in informal speech it frequently refers to ordinary personal habits. Although procrastinate broadly means to delay, it is more specific than postpone because it commonly suggests postponement that is avoidable, prolonged, or inconsistent with an expected deadline.
verbTo delay doing something until a later time, often beyond the time when it should have been done. The word usually implies postponement of an action that is expected or necessary.
- To delay or postpone an action, especially one that ought to be performed promptly.
- To delay acting while making excuses or avoiding a commitment.
"He procrastinated about writing the letter until the deadline was almost upon him."
"I tend to procrastinate when I am facing a difficult task."
"The government has been accused of procrastinating over the decision to reform the system."
"She procrastinated about replying to the invitation, and eventually declined."
Procrastination turns a future task into a present emergency: the longer it is avoided, the more urgent it becomes.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does procrastinate come from?
The word comes from Latin procrastinare, formed from pro- meaning “forward” or “onward” and crastinus meaning “of tomorrow” or “belonging to the next day.” The original sense referred to postponing something to a later day. English borrowed the word in the early 17th century, initially in the sense of postponing or deferring an action, and its modern sense developed from that older usage.
Related word forms
How procrastinate is actually used
Generally neutral in tone, though it can carry a mildly critical or self-reproachful connotation when describing repeated or harmful delay. It is frequently used with an object, an activity, or a preposition such as about, on, or over.
Easily confused with procrastinate
Hesitating can reflect uncertainty or indecision, whereas procrastinating specifically means postponing an action that should be undertaken.