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

The teams returned all at once, noisy and punctual as the trains of the London and North West Railway screeching into Euston Station during the morning rush hour.

From Literature

Not an auspicious beginning to an hour-long conversation with England’s loudest and most punctual band.

From Los Angeles Times

The host country being Switzerland, punctual transport is catered for.

From BBC

"You could have a route where the trains are really expensive but very punctual... similarly, if there's another station over here where trains are similarly punctual, but almost half the price," Mark adds.

From BBC

It said this was not acceptable and everyone was working hard to ensure train services were reliable and punctual.

From BBC

Related Words

• dependable
• expeditious