Meaning & use
punctual
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Arriving or doing things at the time that was arranged, neither late nor early.
Grammar: Often describes a person: she is always punctual. Can be followed by about: punctual about meetings.
Patterns
- punctual for something
- punctual about something
Our teacher is always punctual and starts class on the minute.
Please be punctual for the interview tomorrow.
He is punctual about paying his bills.
Word forms
| comparative | more punctual |
|---|---|
| superlative | most punctual |
Common combinations
- always punctual
- The bus driver is always punctual.
- be punctual
- Try to be punctual on your first day.
- punctual arrival
- Punctual arrival is expected at all meetings.
- strictly punctual
- The conductor is strictly punctual.
Synonyms and how they differ
- prompt
- Stresses acting quickly or without delay, not just matching an agreed time.
- on time
- Is the everyday phrase and also works for trains, deliveries, and events.
- timely
- Describes something that happens at a helpful moment, not a person's habit.
Opposites
Word family
- punctuality noun
- the habit of being on time
- punctually adverb
- at the arranged time
- unpunctual adjective
- not on time
Commonly confused: punctual or punctuate?
punctual vs punctuate
Punctuate means to add punctuation marks or interrupt at intervals; it is not about time.
Practice
Dana is very ___; she never keeps anyone waiting.
Choose one answer.
Punctual describes a person who arrives at the agreed time. Timely describes events or actions at a useful moment, not people's habits.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “punctual”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.