punctual

[ puhngk-choo-uhl ]
See synonyms for: punctualpunctually on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. strictly observant of an appointed or regular time; not late; prompt.

  2. made, occurring, etc., at the scheduled or proper time: punctual payment.

  1. pertaining to or of the nature of a point.

Origin of punctual

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Medieval Latin pūnctuālis of a point, equivalent to Latin pūnctu(s) a point, a pricking (pung(ere) to prick + -tus suffix of v. action) + -ālis-al1; see pungent

Other words from punctual

  • punc·tu·al·ly, adverb
  • punc·tu·al·ness, noun
  • non·punc·tu·al, adjective
  • non·punc·tu·al·ly, adverb
  • non·punc·tu·al·ness, noun
  • un·punc·tu·al, adjective
  • un·punc·tu·al·ly, adverb
  • un·punc·tu·al·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with punctual

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use punctual in a sentence

  • He wishes to cultivate it still, and offers to renew the lease for any number of years, and pay the rent punctually.

    Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley
  • The banks do not pry into his moral character: they are satisfied that he meets his overdrafts and promissory notes punctually.

  • But however, I know the worst, and shall by the blessing of God observe to perform or pay my forfeits punctually.

  • Dan presented himself punctually at the Whitcomb House where Bassett, with his bag packed, sat reading a magazine.

    A Hoosier Chronicle | Meredith Nicholson
  • No clock more punctually went,He ne'er delayed a minute— Nor ever empty was his purse,When he had money in it.

British Dictionary definitions for punctual

punctual

/ (ˈpʌŋktjʊəl) /


adjective
  1. arriving or taking place at an arranged time; prompt

  2. (of a person) having the characteristic of always keeping to arranged times, as for appointments, meetings, etc

  1. obsolete precise; exact; apposite

  2. maths consisting of or confined to a point in space

Origin of punctual

1
C14: from Medieval Latin punctuālis concerning detail, from Latin punctum point

Derived forms of punctual

  • punctuality, noun
  • punctually, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012