on the dot
idiom
informal
: exactly at a particular time
She arrived at 3 o'clock on the dot.
I expect you to be here on the dot of 5.
Examples of on the dot in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At five o’clock on the dot, my father poured vodka sodas for himself and my grandma.
—
Holly Solem, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024
The producer Max Martin, whose collaborations with Britney helped clinch his status as the No. 1 go-to for pop girls, strolls into the story at fifty pages on the dot.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2023
Although being able to leave the office early with the expectation of always being on to answer early morning or late-night emails is a perk for some employees, the same percentage of staffers would rather call it a day at 5 p.m. on the dot—or quit.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2023
At noon on the dot, helmeted Los Angeles Police Department officers bearing plastic handcuffs began arresting the workers seated in the street.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2023
Eerily on the dot with what Kia promises and good news for those looking for a long-range vehicle that isn’t a Tesla.
—Dan Seifert, The Verge, 26 Apr. 2023
Like catching the ball over his back tipping into foul territory, then firing an off-balance, on-the-run throw to first right on the dot for an out.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2023
O’Keefe posted the video on Twitter at 9 p.m. on the dot, and the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted it just seven minutes later.
—Maggie Astor, Star Tribune, 30 Sep. 2020
New mom Aberli Spear gave birth to daughter Judah Grace Spear on Feb. 22, 2022 (2/2/2022), at 2:22 a.m. on the dot.
—Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 22 Feb. 2022
Holly Solem, Vogue, 28 Feb. 2024
The producer Max Martin, whose collaborations with Britney helped clinch his status as the No. 1 go-to for pop girls, strolls into the story at fifty pages on the dot.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2023
Although being able to leave the office early with the expectation of always being on to answer early morning or late-night emails is a perk for some employees, the same percentage of staffers would rather call it a day at 5 p.m. on the dot—or quit.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2023
At noon on the dot, helmeted Los Angeles Police Department officers bearing plastic handcuffs began arresting the workers seated in the street.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2023
Eerily on the dot with what Kia promises and good news for those looking for a long-range vehicle that isn’t a Tesla.
—Dan Seifert, The Verge, 26 Apr. 2023
Like catching the ball over his back tipping into foul territory, then firing an off-balance, on-the-run throw to first right on the dot for an out.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2023
O’Keefe posted the video on Twitter at 9 p.m. on the dot, and the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted it just seven minutes later.
—Maggie Astor, Star Tribune, 30 Sep. 2020
New mom Aberli Spear gave birth to daughter Judah Grace Spear on Feb. 22, 2022 (2/2/2022), at 2:22 a.m. on the dot.
—Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, 22 Feb. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on the dot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near on the dot
Cite this Entry
“On the dot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20dot. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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