punctual

adjective punc·tu·al \ ˈpəŋk-chə-wəl , -chəl \

Examples: punctual in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of punctual

: being on time : prompt

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punctuality

play \ˌpəŋk-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē\ noun

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punctually

play \ˈpəŋk-chə-wə-lē, -chə-lē\ adverb

See punctual defined for English-language learners

See punctual defined for kids

Examples of punctual in a Sentence

the punctual delivery of the daily mail

Recent Examples of punctual from the Web

The top 20 most punctual airlines can be found below. 1.

— Condé Nast Traveler, "The World's Most On-Time Airline Is...," 8 Jan. 2018
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has made a career out of being detail-oriented and punctual.

— ryan wooden, ajc, "Patriots coach Bill Belichick is just like most Americans at Christmas time," 22 Dec. 2017
Likewise, the Media/Elwyn line went from being punctual 56 percent of the time to 95 percent in that time period.

— jason laughlin, Philly.com, "Regional Rail One Year Later: Is SEPTA there yet?," 3 Nov. 2017
An ultra-low-cost carrier will never, ever try to be as punctual as a big legacy airline.

— justin bachman, Bloomberg.com, "What Do You Want, Cheap Airfare or an On-Time Flight?," 31 July 2017
As RCPO, my official duties included maintaining good order, discipline, security, and maintaining punctual training schedules.

— david a. yovanno, Fortune, "How the Navy Prepared Me to Be a Better CEO," 28 May 2017
Occasionally gruff, relentlessly punctual and intensely private, Marcus cuts a different shape than his new ally.

— theodore schleifer, CNN, "Why Trump's No. 2 donor isn't asking for much," 21 May 2017
Generally, however, the report had good news for fliers overall: Airlines were more punctual, lost fewer bags, and bumped fewer customers in 2016 than in any other year since the study was started 26 years ago.

— barbara peterson, Condé Nast Traveler, "Stats Show This Is the Best U.S. Airline," 10 Apr. 2017
Indeed, scientists have discovered that the group sex can be remarkably punctual, its onset typically at a precise but poorly understood time after dusk.

— william j. broad, New York Times, "In Secrets of Coral Spawning, Hope for Endangered Reefs," 20 June 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'punctual.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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".

Origin and Etymology of punctual

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

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First Known Use: 1669

in the meaning defined above

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punctual Synonyms

PUNCTUAL Defined for English Language Learners

punctual

adjective

Definition of punctual for English Language Learners

: arriving or doing something at the expected or planned time

PUNCTUAL Defined for Kids

punctual

adjective punc·tu·al \ ˈpəŋk-chə-wəl \

Definition of punctual for Students

: arriving or acting at the right time : not late

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puntually

adverb

Word Root of punctual

The Latin word pungere, meaning “to prick” or “to pierce,” and its form punctus give us the roots pung and punct. Words from the Latin pungere have something to do with pricking or piercing. To puncture is to pierce with something pointed. A pungent smell is one that is so strong and sharp that it pierces the nose. Someone punctual acts at the exact point when the hands of the clock prick the right moment. Punctuation pierces a string of words to form separate sentences.