Basic Details
Word: Punctual
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Arriving or doing something at exactly the agreed time; not late.
Synonyms: on time, prompt, timely
Antonyms: late, tardy, unpunctual
Word origin: From Latin punctum, a point.
How to Spell Punctual
Syllables: punc - tu - al
Tricky part: The c before the t is easy to lose because the word is said quickly, giving puntual. The end is ual, three letters.
Watch out for: puntual, punctul, punctaul
Memory tip: A punctual person is on the dot, and a dot is a point, like a full stop in punctuation. Punctual and punctuation share punct.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Our school bus driver is so punctual that you could set your watch by him.
Example 2: Please be punctual for the science practical; the lab door closes at nine.
Example 3: Indian Railways has worked hard to make its trains more punctual.
Fun Fact
The Latin punctum, a point, also gave English puncture, a tiny hole made by a sharp point.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The principal thanked the parents for coming and reminded everyone that the children had to be puntual for the bus on the morning of the trip.
a) reminded
b) puntual
c) principal
d) morning
Show answer
b) puntual. Say punc-tu-al slowly and you will hear the c that this version has left out.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word punctual as used in the sentence:
Neha is always punctual for her dance class and is usually the first to arrive.
a) late
b) timely
c) early
d) prompt
Show answer
a) late. Prompt and timely mean the same as punctual, and early is not an opposite; late is.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Our new maths teacher expects everyone to be atculpun and to bring a geometry box.
a) practical
b) pictorial
c) punctual
d) puncture
Show answer
c) punctual. Puncture has an r and an e, and practical and pictorial need letters missing here; only punctual uses these eight.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A punctual guest arrives ____.
a) at the time given
b) an hour after the start
c) only for the dessert
d) on the wrong day
Show answer
a) at the time given
2. Which word shares the Latin root of punctual?
a) puppet
b) punish
c) pumpkin
d) puncture
Show answer
d) puncture
