🇬🇧🇨🇳 procrastinate - 拖延 : English Lesson

Meaning of "procrastinate" ("拖延"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

To procrastinate means you keep delaying something you need to do. You know it should be done, but you keep saying, “I’ll do it later,” again and again. People often procrastinate when a task feels boring, hard, or annoying, even if doing it now would actually make life easier.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I wanted to procrastinate on practicing spelling, but then I misspelled my own name and realized I might actually need this.

My brain said, “Don’t procrastinate, just start your homework,” so I immediately began organizing my pencil collection by emotional vibes.

I told myself, “Don’t procrastinate, just start your math,” and then bravely sharpened five pencils and needed a snack break.

I procrastinate on my book report by reading every book in the house except the one I’m supposed to write about.

I procrastinate on making my bed so much that my blanket has started a new life as a floor decoration.

Anna could feel the train leaving as she watched the clock. She would procrastinate, she would procrastinate, she would procrastinate, folding shirts, checking the phone, drinking tea. She told herself not to procrastinate, but when rain started fear pushed her: she could not procrastinate any more. She grabbed her bag, ran, and laughed on the platform.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.