to the minute
Not a second off
To the minute describes something precise to the exact minute, emphasizing punctuality or accuracy in timing.
If a train arrives at 3:47 to the minute, it arrives exactly then, not a moment before or after.
The phrase often appears with verbs like know or time: She had the schedule planned to the minute.
It conveys a higher degree of precision than approximate expressions like "around" or "about."
- punctuallyAt the scheduled time
- on-timeAt the scheduled moment
- timelyOccurring when appropriate
- preciselyIn an exact manner
- spot-onPrecisely correct, informally
right on time · dead-on · on the nose · exact · sharp · trending topics · promptness · bang on · breaking news · hot off the press · scheduled · accuracy · clockwork · timetabling · down to the wire · split-second · meticulousness · immediacy
to the minuteapproximate
Nearly accurate but inexact
roughly · approximately · more or less · give or take · ballpark
to the minutewhenever
At any occasion
at your leisure · sooner or later · eventually · in due course · fashionably late
to the minutelate
Not on time
behind schedule · delayed · tardy · running late · behind time