punctual Definition
punc·tual (puŋk′c̸ho̵̅o̅ əl)
adjective
- of, like, or drawn into a single point
- carefully observant of an appointed time; on time; prompt
- Archaic punctilious
Etymology: ME < ML punctualis < L punctus, a point
punctual Related Forms
punc′·tu·al′·ity (-al′ə tē) noun
punc′·tu·ally adverb
punc′·tu·al·ness noun
punctual Synonyms
punctual
modif.
Antonyms
punctual Usage Examples
Preposition: for
- meeting: Be punctual for meetings, shake hands on greeting and exchange business cards.
- appointment: Please be punctual for appointments as agents and proprietors will be waiting for you.
Modifies a noun
- airline: With the widest range of holidays available, all linked to the most punctual charter airline, your bound to find the perfect holiday.
- attendance: A likely candidate had to promise: To keep the rules of the Company, and to give regular and punctual attendance.
- arrival: A punctual arrival was made at the Moors Center in Danby, leaving me with 40 minutes to spare.
- payment: Punctual payment is of the essence of the contract.
- train: That means fast, punctual trains; a modernized efficient London Underground; cities not gummed up by congestion.
- service: A more punctual service for all users of the Brighton Main Line, with improved reliability.
Modifying Another Word
- always: It is good that most children at St Mary's are always punctual for school.
- very: The drivers were very punctual at both ends of our holiday.
- so: So punctual were we that we actually had time for a little terrace birdwatching before leaving the hotel at 8am.
- not: Schools should always let EMAS know if this does not happen and/or the bilingual assistant is not punctual.
- extremely: I was told you had to be extremely punctual - that that was an issue.
Used with adjective complement
make: According to the plan, trains were to be made more punctual.
Browse dictionary entries near punctual
- ‹ punctilious
- ‹ punctilio
- ‹ punctate
- ‹ punchy
- ‹ punching bag
- ‹ punchinello
- ‹ puncher
- ‹ puncheon
- ‹ punched
- ‹ punchboard
- punctuality ›
- punctuate ›
- punctuated equilibrium ›
- punctuation ›
- punctuation mark ›
- punctulate ›
- puncture ›
- punctured ›
- pundit ›
- Pune ›

