The original meaning of punctual described a puncture made by a surgeon. The word has meant lots of other things through the centuries, usually involving being precise about small points. And today punctuality is all about time; a punctual train or a punctual payment or a punctual person shows up "on the dot".
Recent Examples on the WebAnother red flag is if your usually punctual bud (who’s known for being reliable) is comfortable canceling plans only with you.—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 19 July 2024 That is, by accumulating a capsule accessories wardrobe of sorts, a concise collection of shoes that can interchangeably go with just about everything, letting my clothes do most of the talking, and keeping me (somewhat) punctual.—Pema Bakshi, refinery29.com, 4 Apr. 2024 Being punctual is considered synonymous with being German.—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Europe, 3 July 2024 Nearly half of Gen Z workers say that arriving to work five to 10 minutes late is tantamount to being punctual, but most baby boomer bosses don’t tolerate tardiness.—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for punctual
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punctual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, having a sharp point, from Medieval Latin punctualis of a point, from Latin punctus pricking, point, from pungere to prick — more at pungent
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