Appointment

uh-POYNT-muhnt /əˈpɔɪntmənt/

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What it really means

A booked time to see a doctor, nurse or dentist. In the UK you almost always need an appointment — you usually can't just walk in and wait to see a GP.

Chinese explanation

预约好的就诊时间。在英国看GP、护士或牙医几乎都需要预约，一般不能直接走进去排队等着看。

Example conversation

A: Can I see Dr Shah this morning? B: Do you have an appointment? If not, the next free slot is Thursday.

A：今天上午能看Shah医生吗？ B：你有预约吗？没有的话，最早的空位在星期四。

What you could say back

“Thursday is fine, thank you.”

Related phrases

I'd like to book an appointment Receptionist Same-day appointment

Official sources

Rules and amounts change — confirm important details with the official source.

Go deeper

Dentists and Opticians in the UK: Costs, NHS Bands and How to Get Seen How the NHS Works: Where to Go When You Are Ill in England Mental Health Support in the UK: Where to Turn and How It Works

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Reviewed by the UK Decoded editorial team · Last checked 24 July 2026 · Report a mistake