punctual

adjective

punc·​tu·​al ˈpəŋk-chə-wəl 

-chəl

: being on time : prompt

punctuality

ˌpəŋk-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

noun

punctually

ˈpəŋk-chə-wə-lē 

-chə-lē

adverb

Did you know?

The original meaning of punctual described a puncture made by a surgeon. The word has meant lots of other things through the centuries, usually involving being precise about small points. And today punctuality is all about time; a punctual train or a punctual payment or a punctual person shows up "on the dot".

Synonyms

• immediate
• prompt
• speedy
• timely

Examples of punctual in a Sentence

the punctual delivery of the daily mail

Recent Examples on the Web

Benito arrives, punctual, at exactly ten o’clock in the morning, wearing a camouflage print T-shirt, Sky High Farm jeans with an orange bandana in one of the back pockets, and yellow ballerina-style sneakers from his own collaboration with Adidas. —Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 1 May 2025

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are a punctual couple! —Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025

Globally, Aeromexico was the most punctual airline with 93 percent of flights arriving on time. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2025

The delivery team was punctual, friendly, set the entire crib up, and even cleared all of the boxes on their way out. —Briana Feigon, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, having a sharp point, from Medieval Latin punctualis of a point, from Latin punctus pricking, point, from pungere to prick — more at pungent

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

punctual

adjective

punc·​tu·​al ˈpəŋ(k)-chə(-wə)l 

: acting or usually acting at an appointed time or at a regularly scheduled time

the trains were punctual

punctuality

ˌpəŋ(k)-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē 

noun

punctually

ˈpəŋ(k)-chə(-wə)-lē 

adverb