as in readiness
the quality or habit of arriving or being ready on time
our boss is a real stickler for punctuality—he expects everyone to be at their desk by nine o'clock
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Recent Examples of punctuality
Lily is in charge of these (Friends of Pacific Beach Secondary Schools) funds and her communication and punctuality are always professional and punctual.
—
Cyril A. Reinicke, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Myers takes the idea to its extreme, even in punctuality.
—Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
But that move has always struck me as a little goofy in an introduction, like the teacher who delivers her lecture on punctuality to a bunch of empty seats.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
However, that is not actually where the rules of punctuality end.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Securing a job in the service industry, as a lifeguard or coach for younger children—essentially any position that requires punctuality, customer service, and the ability to handle pressure—can teach essential skills for preparing for college.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
More than 10 billion passengers have traveled on Japan’s Shinkansen since 1964, and the network’s drama-free punctuality has become a quiet part of daily life for millions.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Petro, who is not known for his punctuality, arrived an hour and a half late.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
New global punctuality rankings from aviation analytics firm Cirium show just how dire delays were in 2025.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Cyril A. Reinicke, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Myers takes the idea to its extreme, even in punctuality.
—Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
But that move has always struck me as a little goofy in an introduction, like the teacher who delivers her lecture on punctuality to a bunch of empty seats.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
However, that is not actually where the rules of punctuality end.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
Securing a job in the service industry, as a lifeguard or coach for younger children—essentially any position that requires punctuality, customer service, and the ability to handle pressure—can teach essential skills for preparing for college.
—Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
More than 10 billion passengers have traveled on Japan’s Shinkansen since 1964, and the network’s drama-free punctuality has become a quiet part of daily life for millions.
—Ben Jones, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
Petro, who is not known for his punctuality, arrived an hour and a half late.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2026
New global punctuality rankings from aviation analytics firm Cirium show just how dire delays were in 2025.
—Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for punctuality
Noun
-
His preliminary hearing readiness has been set for May 13, and the preliminary hearing will follow on July 22, said officials from the district attorney’s office.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
European officials had welcomed Ukraine's unilateral move as a goodwill gesture illustrating its readiness for a peace settlement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Observational research spanning seven different cultures shows that maternal responsiveness, especially the promptness of it, is a universal feature of caregiving.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
While the Tribune’s coverage was certainly powerful, we are reminded how those words also describe Chicagoans’ willingness to stand up to the many abuses inflicted on the city by this administration.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Despite the Republican pushback, the top Republican in the Missouri House signaled a willingness to discuss changes to the law.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Certain information has been provided by and/or is based on third party sources and, although such information is believed to be reliable, no representation is made with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of such information.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
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Also, from the music aspect, timeliness is just an essential part of music.—
Ben Crandell,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Punctuality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/punctuality. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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