1. procrastinate To protract is to cause to occupy a longer time than is usual, expected, or desirable. We defer a negotiation which we are slow to enter upon; we protract a negotiation which we are slow to con Synonyms: protract, continue, delay, elongate, lengthen, procrastinate, defer, draw out, extend, postpone, prolong Antonyms: abbreviate, conclude, curtail, hurry, reduce, abridge, contract, hasten, limit, shorten