Meaning & use

punctual

adjective·Everyday

Arriving, doing something, or happening at the exact time that was agreed or expected.

See it in a sentence

Being punctual for the interview made a strong first impression on the hiring manager.

The train service is famous for being punctual, rarely arriving even a minute late.

A note on using this word

Punctual describes people and their habits, while 'on time' can also describe events, deliveries, or objects.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “punctual”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.