WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
punc•tu•al /ˈpʌŋktʃuəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
punc•tu•al•ly, adv. See -punct-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- being on time; prompt:He was always punctual for meetings.
punc•tu•al•ly, adv. See -punct-.
punc•tu•al
(pungk′cho̅o̅ əl),USA pronunciation adj.
punc′tu•al•ly, adv.
punc′tu•al•ness, n.
- strictly observant of an appointed or regular time;
not late;
prompt. - made, occurring, etc., at the scheduled or proper time:punctual payment.
- pertaining to or of the nature of a point.
- punctilious.
- Medieval Latin pūnctuālis of a point, equivalent. to Latin pūnctu(s) a point, a pricking (pung(ere) to prick + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action) + -ālis -al1; see pungent
- Middle English 1350–1400
punc′tu•al•ness, n.
'punctually' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):