arrive
uh-RYV
Arrive (verb) means to reach a place after travelling. Example: “We arrived at the hotel just before midnight.”
verb
1
To reach a place after travelling.
"We arrived at the hotel just before midnight."
"The package should arrive by Friday."
"The guests will arrive around six, so the food should be ready."
2
To reach a certain moment, stage, or level of success.
"When her first novel topped the charts, the young writer knew she had arrived."
"After years of struggle, she finally felt she had arrived as a chef."
"Winter has arrived early this year."
How to use arrive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo get to a place, or to reach a point in time or in your career.
Common mistake
Use "arrive at/in", never "arrive to" — say "arrive in London" or "arrive at the station."
Common pairings
arrive at
arrive on time
arrive late
newly arrived
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- arrives
- Past tense
- arrived
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ at the hotel just before midnight.
Etymology
From Old French ariver, ultimately from Latin ad ripam, "to the shore" — the original sense was literally "to reach land."
Related words
Rhymes for arrive
See all rhymes for arrive →Frequently asked questions
What does “arrive” mean?
The word “arrive” means to reach a place after travelling. In plain terms, to get to a place, or to reach a point in time or in your career.
How do you pronounce “arrive”?
“Arrive” is pronounced uh-RYV (/əˈɹaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “arrive” in a sentence?
Here is “arrive” used in a sentence: “We arrived at the hotel just before midnight.”
What is the opposite of “arrive”?
The opposite of “arrive” — its antonyms — is depart.
What part of speech is “arrive”?
“Arrive” is a verb.
Where does the word “arrive” come from?
The word “arrive” comes from Latin. From Old French ariver, ultimately from Latin ad ripam, "to the shore" — the original sense was literally "to reach land.".
Is “arrive” a common word?
“Arrive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “arrive” have?
“Arrive” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to reach a place after travelling.
Do you say "arrive in" or "arrive at"?
Use "arrive in" with large areas such as cities and countries: "We arrived in Paris." Use "arrive at" with specific places, buildings, and events: "She arrived at the airport." "Arrive to" is not standard in British or American English, except before a verb expressing what happened next, as in "arrived to find the door locked."
What is the difference between arrive and reach?
Both verbs mean to get to a place after travelling, but reach takes a direct object: "They reached the summit." Arrive needs a preposition: "They arrived at the summit." Reach also often emphasizes effort or distance covered, while arrive is the neutral, everyday word.
Is arrive formal, and what are informal alternatives?
Arrive is neutral and fits both formal and informal contexts. In casual speech, "show up," "turn up," and "get in" are common informal alternatives: "What time did you get in?" In timetables and announcements, arrive is the standard choice.
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