arrive

1 of 2

verb

ar·​rive ə-ˈrīv How to pronounce arrive (audio)
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 How to pronounce arrivé (audio)
: one who has risen rapidly to success, power, or fame
Phrases
arrive at
: to reach by effort or thought
arrived at a decision

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
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.
Verb
Snow had arrived the night before, and another storm was on its way. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 2 Dec. 2024 The holiday weekend may be over but, sure enough, the best Olaplex Cyber Monday deals have arrived in all their shiny, strong glory. Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
When October 13 arrives, Mercury shifts into Scorpio. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2024 The Cleveland Guardians' lineup needs help as MLB's stretch run arrives Cubs expect to be over the luxury tax threshold. New York Times, 20 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for arrive 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of arrive was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near arrive

Cite this Entry

“Arrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrive. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

arrive

verb
ar·​rive ə-ˈrīv How to pronounce arrive (audio)
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
informal : to be successful

More from Merriam-Webster on arrive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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