arrival

noun

ar·​riv·​al ə-ˈrī-vəl How to pronounce arrival (audio)
1
: the act of arriving
2
: the attainment of an end or state
3
: one that has recently arrived
new arrivals

Examples of arrival in a Sentence

They were awaiting the arrival of guests. When is the mail scheduled for arrival? They track the number of airport arrivals and departures. They were late arrivals at the party. They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their wedding day. the changes that occur with the arrival of spring the arrival of new technology
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This can likely be traced back to Gian Piero Gasperini’s arrival in Serie A with Genoa in 2007, using a back-three system to counteract the prevailing, narrow 4-3-1-2 shape that was commonly employed in Italy. Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025 Yes, the hotel’s team was ready and waiting for me upon my arrival via private transfer from the train station in the nearby town of Rapallo. Laura Itzkowitz, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025 Ndenbe, meanwhile, had made 90 appearances on the Sporting KC back line since his January 2022 arrival in Kansas City. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025 The King and Queen earlier met the new pontiff for the first time since his May election on Thursday morning, following their arrival in Rome the previous evening to celebrate the holy Jubilee year, which takes place every quarter of a century. Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arrival

Word History

Etymology

Middle English arivaile, arrival "act of arriving, landing, disembarkation," borrowed from Anglo-French arrivayle, arivail, from ariver, arriver "to arrive entry 1" + -ayle, -ail, in part going back to Latin -ālis -al entry 2, in part a collective suffix going back to Latin -ālia, from neuter plural of -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arrival was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Arrival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrival. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

arrival

noun
ar·​riv·​al ə-ˈrī-vəl How to pronounce arrival (audio)
1
: the act of arriving
await the arrival of guests
2
: a person or thing that has arrived
late arrivals at a concert

More from Merriam-Webster on arrival

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