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verb A1 Beginner Common

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."
2
To reach a certain moment, stage, or level of success.
"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 notes

In 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

Word Forms

arrived past tense, arrives singular

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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."

Origin: Latin

Antonyms

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial