arrive

1 of 2

verb

ar·​rive ə-ˈrīv 

arrived; arriving

intransitive verb

1

a

: to reach a destination

The train arrived late.

b

: to make an appearance : to come upon the scene

The crowd became silent when the officers arrived.

2

: to be near in time : come

The moment has arrived.

3

informal : to achieve success

After years of climbing the corporate ladder, he felt he had finally arrived.

4

archaic : happen

arriver noun

arrivé

2 of 2

noun

ar·​ri·​vé ˌa-ri-ˈvā 

: one who has risen rapidly to success, power, or fame

Phrases

arrive at

: to reach by effort or thought

arrived at a decision

Synonyms

Verb

• appear
• come
• get in
• get through
• land
• show up
• turn up

Examples of arrive in a Sentence

Verb

He arrived home at six o'clock.

We had some dinner before arriving at the station.

When do you expect them to arrive in Boston?

Their flight is due to arrive at 11:30.

The train from New York is now arriving.

They arrived late at the party.

The mail hasn't arrived yet.

The new version of the software has finally arrived in stores.

There's always a lot to do when spring arrives.

When is their baby expected to arrive?

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Several members of Sanchez’s cabinet were seen arriving at his residence on Wednesday evening. —Reuters, NBC News, 25 Apr. 2024

The former president arrived at the courthouse and, in a now-familiar ritual, stopped to speak to cameras before entering the courtroom. —Katrina Kaufman, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ariven, arriven "to reach the end of a journey by sea, disembark, reach a destination," borrowed from Anglo-French ariver, arriver "to bring (a person, a ship) to shore, to reach a destination by ship, disembark" (also continental Old French), going back to Vulgar Latin *arrīpāre, parasynthetic derivative from Latin ad rīpam "up to the shore, at the shore" from ad "to, at" + rīpam, accusative of rīpa "bank, shore"; (sense 3) borrowed from French arriver (attested in this sense since the 18th century) — more at at entry 1, river

Noun

borrowed from French, past participle of arriver "to reach a destination, achieve success," going back to Old French ariver "to reach a destination by ship" — more at arrive entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1866, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing arrive

• arrive at

Kids Definition

arrive

verb

ar·​rive ə-ˈrīv 

arrived; arriving

1

: to reach the place one started out for

arrive home at six o'clock

2

: come sense 4

the time arrived to begin

3

: to be successful