They do indeed have a very similar meaning. I'll try and outline some differences: Postpone: This usually carries the meaning that someone has intentionally decided to do the task later. It suggests that there's a reason for doing it (other than laziness) - maybe it is necessary to wait for something else, or there will be a better opportunity. It is usually used in more formal or business environments. Put off: This suggests that the task should be done now, but the person is choosing to do it later. It's quite likely that the person isn't doing it because they're lazy, but not necessarily true (often a reason would be included). 'Put off' also carries different meanings in different contexts - it can be used to suggest that you grew to dislike an object, or you were persuaded not to do a task. "I'm putting the work off until later because I'm so busy right now" "Seeing him eat like that put me off wanting to eat" (I don't want to eat because he makes a mess when he eats) "I was put off by her bad perfume" (I smelled it and now I feel sick) Procrastinate: Unlike the other terms, this one generally doesn't take an object. We might say: "I have been procrastinating recently", but we wouldn't really say: "I have been procrastinating doing the dishes" In general, procrastinate means that there are some things that should be done, but you are not doing them - the other terms refer to specific things that we should be doing. We can also describe what we are doing instead of the thing we should be doing: "I have been procrastinating by watching TV (instead of cleaning the house)".