procrastinate
proh-KRAS-tuh-naytverbMeaning to keep putting off something one should do
Memory hook CRAS = TOMORROW: always tomorrow. The homework pile grows taller, but Pip keeps playing and saying, “Tomorrow!” He pushes everything to tomorrow: he procrastinates.
If you procrastinate on your science project, you’ll be gluing it together at midnight.
In context Maya knew the essay was due Monday, yet she continued to procrastinate, cleaning her room, sorting her books and baking cookies instead of writing a single word.
Similar delay, stall, put off, dawdle
Opposite hurry, act promptly
From Latin procrastinare, “to put off till tomorrow”: pro- (forward) + crastinus (of tomorrow), from cras (tomorrow).