punctual

American  

[puhngk-choo-uhl] / ˈpʌŋk tʃu əl /

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.

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

4. punctilious.

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punctual British  

/ 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

3. obsolete precise; exact; apposite

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

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Other Word Forms

• nonpunctual adjective
• nonpunctually adverb
• nonpunctualness noun
• punctuality noun
• punctually adverb
• punctualness noun
• unpunctual adjective
• unpunctually adverb
• unpunctualness noun

Etymology

Origin of punctual

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 -al ¹; pungent

Example Sentences

Switzerland is renowned for its extensive and punctual rail network, with frequent services between cities, towns and even villages.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

The bakery runs on its own kind of liturgy: a punctual 10:30 a.m. batch, and a second that might appear anytime between 4:30 and 6, the sort of unpredictability you start building your afternoon around.

From Salon • Dec. 7, 2025

That would have suited Wintour, who is “horribly punctual, usually early”.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2024

“I learned a lot from Lupita and the way to conduct oneself in an environment like that. She’s punctual, brave, fearless and knows exactly what she wants and what she doesn’t want.”

From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2024

And at half-past three, punctual to the moment, I heard the sound of Beatrice’s car round the sweep of the drive and pull up at the steps before the house.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• dependable
• expeditious