# punctual

/ˈpəŋktʃuəɫ/ (US) · /pˈʌŋktʃuːəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/punctual
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

arriving or happening exactly on time. You use this to describe someone who is not late for meetings or appointments.

For teachers: arriving or occurring exactly at the scheduled or expected time. Often used to describe a person's reliability in time management.

## Examples

- He is very punctual and always arrives before the meeting starts.
- The train is usually punctual, so we should not worry about being late for our flight.
- Maintaining a punctual schedule is essential for the success of the project, as every team member must synchronize their efforts to meet the final deadline.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.