punctual
27
3.2
- adjective
- /ˈpʌŋk.tʃu.əl/
:
puntual
- The train is known for its punctual schedule, leaving precisely on time each day.
- punctual employees
Say I'm working on becoming a more efficient, more punctual, more consistent person.
- Say I'm working on becoming a more efficient, more punctual, more consistent person.
- Sometimes Ruth is punctual and sometimes she's late.
- And now, now I'm like super punctual.
- Just just a punctual, we're on time punctual.
Examples
-
Say I'm working on becoming a more efficient, more punctual, more consistent person.
-
John is normally very punctual and in most situations assumes responsibility for his own actions and outcomes.
Fiction book (2001) -
Yes, not as punctual as you, but I am punctual.
-
Finally, the punctual employees had older children than the employees who were late to work.
Academic text (2002) -
You should learn to be more punctual in your work.
Academic text (1996) -
In many ways, John was a very good worker, reliable, punctual, and honest.
Academic text (1992) -
In such situations, one wishes to identify in advance individuals who are always punctual.
Academic text (2002) -
Are the administrators always punctual to work in Nigerian universities?
Academic text (2006) -
The heads of non-teaching staff should show a good example by being punctual and having the right attitude at the workplace.
Academic text (2006) -
Punctual as always.
Synonyms
321
1.0
At the expected time
111
3.0
Happening at the right time to be useful
78
2.0
Happens at the planned time and is not late
43
1.2
At exactly the planned time
1
3.7
Happening at the best moment to be most useful
Being careful to do things on time
Antonyms
How Punctual
Surface Forms
Morphology
punctual = punct + ual
The adjective is built from the combining form 'punct-' (point/moment) plus the adjectival suffix '-ual', but 'punct' is not a common standalone English word, so learners cannot reliably infer 'on time' from the components.
Etymology
Punctual comes from the Latin word punctum, which means 'point' or 'small mark', and the root punct- is also in English words like puncture and punctuate. Think of arriving at the exact 'point' on a clock — that image shows why punctual means 'on time'.