procrastinate

IPA/prəˈkræstɪneɪt/
KK[prəkrˈæstənˌet]IPA/prəˈkræstɪneɪt/

procrastinate — verb

  • procrastinatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • procrastinateshe / she / it
  • procrastinatedpast simple
  • procrastinating-ing form

1. to avoid starting a task you know you need to do, by doing other less important

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to avoid starting a task you know you need to do, by doing other less important things instead — often leaving the main job until the last moment and feeling stressed about it.

例句

Instead of writing her essay, Sophia procrastinated by cleaning her entire kitchen.

collocation: procrastinate by + gerund

Imran knew he should file his taxes, but he kept procrastinating until the deadline.

同義詞
  • delay

    more neutral — can be for a good reason or unavoidable

  • put off

    more informal, common in everyday speech

  • postpone

    implies a planned rescheduling, not necessarily due to avoidance

  • stall

    can mean deliberately creating obstacles to avoid acting

反義詞
  • tackle

    to face a task directly and begin working on it

  • get on with

    informal phrasal verb meaning to stop delaying and start doing

文法句型

procrastinate + on/about + [something]

procrastinate + by + doing [something else]

keep + procrastinating

用法筆記

Frequently used with the prepositions 'on' or 'about' followed by a noun or gerund (e.g., 'procrastinate on homework', 'procrastinate about booking'). Unlike 'delay' or 'postpone', which can be neutral, procrastinate always implies the delay is unnecessary and often causes guilt or last-minute rush.

常見錯誤

I procrastinated to do my homework.
I procrastinated on doing my homework.
💡'procrastinate' is not followed by a to-infinitive; use 'on/about' + gerund.