WordGarden.ioarrive
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /ərˈaɪv/
US
- /ərˈaɪv/
Meanings
Verb
to reach a place or destination after traveling or moving
to happen or come at a particular time
(informal)to become successful or socially established
Beyond the definition
To arrive means to reach a destination after traveling. It's more than just getting somewhere; it implies the completion of a journey. You might arrive at school, a party, or even at a realization. Think about waiting for someone—the moment they show up is when they arrive. Sometimes arrival isn't physical; you can arrive at a decision after much thought. And sometimes what “arrives” is a moment in time: the long-awaited day arrives, and suddenly it’s here. A delayed train arriving late is frustrating, but a timely arrival brings relief and allows plans to unfold.
The word "arrive" signifies reaching a destination or point, typically after a journey. It's the culmination of movement—the moment when travel ceases and presence begins. For example: "The plane finally arrived at the airport after being delayed for hours," or "She arrived home exhausted but happy."
In everyday English, we often say you arrive in a city or country ("arrive in Paris") but arrive at a more specific place ("arrive at the station").
However, "arrive" isn't always about physical locations. You can arrive at a conclusion after careful consideration ("After weeks of research, he finally arrived at a solution"), or arrive at a certain emotional state ("She arrived at a place of peace after years of turmoil"). This figurative use suggests reaching a point in time or understanding.
You can also use "arrive" for time and events, especially when something feels anticipated or inevitable: "Spring has arrived," "Help arrived just in time," or "The deadline arrived sooner than I expected." In these cases, "arrive" means that the moment or event has finally come.
The context often dictates the nuance. A formal invitation might specify an "arrival time," while casual conversation could simply ask, "Have you arrived yet?" The word also carries implications about expectation and anticipation—we wait for someone to arrive, suggesting their presence is desired or necessary.
Historically, "arrive" comes from the Old French word arriver, meaning "to reach the shore." This origin hints at the original sense of reaching a final destination after a voyage. So whether it's a physical place, an idea, or an emotional state, to arrive means to complete a journey and be present at a desired point.
Examples
- 1
Travel
We arrived in Lisbon just after sunset.
- Grammar
arrive in + city or country; arrive at + airport, station, hotel, or other exact place
- 2
Hotel arrival
By the time we arrived at the hotel, the restaurant was closed.
- 3
Home arrival
Text me when you arrive home.
- Grammar
With home, here, and there, we usually do not use a preposition: arrive home, arrive here.
- 4
Train schedule
The train arrived on time for once.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Delivery
Her replacement laptop arrived two days earlier than expected.
- 6
Problem solving
After hours of discussion, we finally arrived at a solution.
- Patternarrive at a solution/decision/conclusion
find or reach it after thinking
- 7
Interview date
The day of the interview arrived much faster than I expected.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- arriveverb
Forms
- arrivedpast tenseverb
- arriving-ing formverb
- arrivesverb