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
Derived 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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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.
Punctual, quiet and efficient, the air-conditioned trains fulfilled their primary purpose – taking me from one destination to the next – but they were devoid of soul.
From The Guardian • Jan. 12, 2020
Punctual to the minute, there was a knock on the door.
From Washington Post • Sep. 29, 2017
Punctual to the minute, Gustaf V & family withdrew to their private apartments for His Majesty's nightly bridge game.
From Time Magazine Archive
Punctual himself, he has been known to trip late first-nighters.
From Time Magazine Archive
Punctual and thorough, he had a good work ethic and absolutely no ambition, which suited Petty Officer Lac, who had plenty of ambition but no work ethic to speak of.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
