punctual
Americanadjective
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strictly observant of an appointed or regular time; not late; prompt.
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made, occurring, etc., at the scheduled or proper time.
punctual payment.
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pertaining to or of the nature of a point.
adjective
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arriving or taking place at an arranged time; prompt
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(of a person) having the characteristic of always keeping to arranged times, as for appointments, meetings, etc
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obsolete precise; exact; apposite
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maths consisting of or confined to a point in space
Other Word Forms
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; see pungent
Explanation
When someone says “Be punctual,” that means you better be there on time. Five minutes late won’t cut it. Some people seem to follow an appointment clock instinctively. We call those types punctual. They'll check their watch when you arrive three minutes late. The word punctual originates from the Latin word punctualis, which means “a point.” To be punctual, you have to arrive at the right point in time. For your appointment. Get the point?
Vocabulary lists containing punctual
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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Unit 1: Telling Details
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He explained that most job candidates are perfectly respectful and punctual when they meet executives—the people who control their fate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
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
The firm has had a number of well-documented problems but Rob is focused on keeping trains safe and punctual.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2024
The voices of her children joined her in an uneven chorus that lacked some of the fire and fervor of the first five prayers for their father’s safe and punctual return.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
