Meaning & use
procrastinating
Last updated
“procrastinating” is a form of “procrastinate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbintransitivedisapproving
Putting off doing something that needs to be done, usually because it is unpleasant or you do not feel like starting.
Grammar: -ing form of procrastinate; takes no object but is often followed by about or on: procrastinating about homework.
Patterns
- procrastinating about something
- stop procrastinating
I've been procrastinating all week instead of writing my report.
He is procrastinating about calling the dentist.
Stop procrastinating and start packing.
Word forms
| base form | procrastinate |
|---|---|
| third person singular | procrastinates |
| past tense | procrastinated |
Common combinations
- stop procrastinating
- You need to stop procrastinating and make a decision.
- keep procrastinating
- If you keep procrastinating, the deadline will arrive.
- procrastinating about
- She is procrastinating about her taxes.
- guilty of procrastinating
- We are all guilty of procrastinating sometimes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- delaying
- Delaying is neutral and can describe postponing anything, while procrastinating implies pointless avoidance.
- dawdling
- Dawdling means moving or working slowly rather than deliberately putting a task off.
- stalling
- Stalling suggests buying time to avoid acting, often in a conversation or negotiation.
Opposites
Word family
- procrastination noun
- the habit of putting things off
- procrastinator noun
- someone who puts things off
Commonly confused: procrastinating or postponing?
procrastinating vs postponing
Postponing is a deliberate, often sensible decision to move something to a later time; procrastinating is avoidance without good reason.
Practice
Instead of studying, Mia kept ___ by cleaning her room.
Choose one answer.
Procrastinating means avoiding a necessary task by doing something else. Postponing would need an object or a decided new date, and preparing and practicing suggest actual work.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “procrastinating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.