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

• ˈpunctually, adverb
• ˌpunctuˈality, noun

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

People who join later will automatically be placed at the back of the line, so it pays to be punctual.

From BBC

The firm has had a number of well-documented problems but Rob is focused on keeping trains safe and punctual.

From BBC

“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

Surprisingly, they found that the daily internal clock worked perfectly fine in all specimens, even the arrhythmic "couch potatoes," and that the number of genes with rhythmic activity was nearly as high as in the "punctual" worms.

From Science Daily

The neat and punctual craftsmanship may be soothing to an audience conditioned by television to appreciate familiar formulas.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dependable
• expeditious