punctually

punctually — adverb

1. at exactly the time that was planned or expected, so that someone arrives or som

1.adverbB2
Definition

at exactly the time that was planned or expected, so that someone arrives or something happens neither earlier nor later than arranged

Example

The courier delivered the package punctually at 10 a.m., just as the office opened.

deliver + punctually + at [exact time]

Inês pays rent punctually on the first of each month, so the landlord never complains.

pay + punctually + on [day]

Common collocations
  • arrive punctually
  • deliver punctually
  • pay punctually
  • start punctually
  • be delivered punctually
  • meet punctually
Synonyms
  • on time

    everyday, neutral; far more common in both speech and informal writing

  • promptly

    adds a sense of quickness alongside timeliness; implies immediate action at the right moment

  • right on schedule

    informal, emphatic; used when something happens at the exact planned moment, often with satisfaction

Antonyms
  • late

    after the expected or arranged time

  • behind schedule

    not happening at the planned time; delayed

Grammar Patterns

punctually + [verb]

[verb] + punctually

punctually + at/on/by [time/date]

Usage Note

This adverb is more formal than the everyday phrase 'on time'. In spoken English, 'on time' or 'right on time' is much more common; 'punctually' appears mainly in written descriptions of schedules, payments, and formal procedures.

Common Mistakes

The class starts punctual at 7 p.m.
The class starts punctually at 7 p.m.
'punctual' is an adjective; the adverb form 'punctually' is needed to modify a verb.
He came punctually for the party at 9 p.m.' (sounds too formal for a casual party)
He arrived punctually for the business meeting at 9 a.m.
'punctually' fits formal or professional contexts better than casual social events.

Word family

  • punctual
    adjectiveB1
  • punctuality
    nounB2
  • unpunctual
    adjectiveB2
  • unpunctuality
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'On time' is the everyday equivalent of 'punctually' — it appears naturally in casual speech without sounding stiff, and is by far the most common choice. 'Promptly' adds a sense of quickness or immediate action to timeliness: if you respond promptly, you do it quickly as well as at the right moment. 'Right on schedule' is an informal emphatic phrase used when something happens at the exact planned moment, often carrying a tone of satisfaction or relief. 'Punctually' sits in the middle — more formal than 'on time', less emphatic than 'right on schedule', and most frequent in written English about schedules, payments, or formal events. For example: 'The train arrived punctually at 8:15' (neutral, written register), versus 'The train was on time' (spoken, casual), versus 'The train came right on schedule' (emphatic, pleased).

on timepromptlyright on schedule

Common collocations

Nouns

  • punctually at the start
  • punctually on the day
  • punctually by the hour

Adverbs

  • always punctually
  • usually punctually
  • never punctually

Phrases

  • promptly and punctually
  • punctually at [number] [am/pm]
  • punctually on time

Prepositions

  • at [time]
  • on [day/date]
  • by [deadline]

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'punctualis' (of or belonging to a point), derived from 'punctum' (a point or small mark). In medieval Latin, 'punctualis' took on the sense of 'relating to the point' in time — being 'on the dot'. The word entered English via French 'ponctuel' in the 17th century, first used to mean 'exact in keeping time'.