punctual

[ puhngk-choo-uhl ]

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.

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
3. obsolete.
   precise; exact; apposite
4. maths consisting of or confined to a point in space

Derived Forms

• ˌpunctuˈality, noun
• ˈpunctually, adverb

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctual¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of punctual¹

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

Example Sentences

Google is testing this feature in these cities and you’ll soon be able to see how to avoid the crowd and remain punctual at the same time.

From Popular-Science

Imani likes being punctual, but after picking up food from her friend’s restaurant, Reveler’s Hour in Adams Morgan, and an unexpected Uber issue, she ended up logging in about 10 minutes late.

From Washington Post

Deen is not only punctual, but also professionally courteous to his former co-stars.

From The Daily Beast

On the day of the shoot, the crew and I arrived early—Mrs. Cleaver would have wanted us to be punctual!

From The Daily Beast

He was punctual to his appointment on the following morning; and so was Mr Bellamy.

From Project Gutenberg

A discount allowed by the company for the punctual payment of premiums belongs not to the agent, but to the insured.

From Project Gutenberg

"I always make it a point to be punctual," Lamb dawdling in the background, overheard him say.

From Project Gutenberg

The arrangement being thus fully made, the commissioner, promising to be punctual, bowed and retired.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a very punctual man—in other words, he always paced leisurely along, some time or another.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dependable
• expeditious