Spelling of procrastinator: procrastinator is spelled p-r-o-c-r-a-s-t-i-n-a-t-o-r. Be careful with the suffix as or and er can be easily confused.
Definition of procrastinator: A person who delays important tasks (such as work or chores) by completing minor or more enjoyable tasks instead. Someone who procrastinates his or her work is called a procrastinator.
Pronunciation of procrastinator: Procrastinator is pronounced pro-cras-ti-na-ter.
How to Use Procrastinator in a Sentence
The noun procrastinator is often used to criticize a lack of productivity or strong work ethic.
- Simon, you have been sat at your computer for an hour but haven’t completed any work. You are such a procrastinator!
- I’m a big procrastinator. When it’s time to complete my homework, I find other tasks to do, such as clean my room or organize my DVDs.
Procrastination is a related noun, and it refers to the act of postponing or delaying. While a procrastinator is someone who does the postponing, procrastination is the act, itself, of postponing.
Similarly, procrastinate is a related verb. When someone delays his work, he is procrastinating.
Procrastinate is conjugated as a regular verb:
I/we procrastinate: first person singular and plural present
You procrastinate: second person singular and plural present
He/she/it procrastinates: third person singular present
They procrastinate: third person plural present
Procrastinating: Present participle
Procrastinated: simple past
Phrases That Use Procrastinator
Procrastinator is not used in any common phrases or idioms, but the noun form, procrastination, does appear in a number of inspirational quotes about the dangers of procrastinating:
- “Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” –Charles Dickens
- “God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” –Augustine of Hippo
History of Procrastinator
Procrastinator is the noun form of the verb procrastinate which, according to Merriam-Webster, entered English in the 16th century. Its Latin origin procrastinationem means “a putting off from day to day.” Pro means “forward” and crastinus means “belonging to tomorrow.”
Synonyms of Procrastinator
There are many synonyms used to criticize someone with a poor work ethic:
- Dawdler
- Dilly-dallier
- Idler
- Laggard
- Lingerer
- Loafer
- Lounger
- Slowpoke
- Straggler
Outside Examples
- “Obama struggles to shake off reputation as procrastinator-in-chief.” -Financial Times
- “One in four [people] would describe themselves as a chronic procrastinator.” -BBC News
Summary
Procrastinator is a noun used to describe someone who delays the completion of an important task.
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