Definition of 'arrive'

Word Frequency

arrive

(əraɪv )

Word forms: arrives, arriving, arrived

1. intransitive verb

When a person or vehicle arrives at a place, they come to it from somewhere else.

Fresh groups of guests arrived.

...a small group of commuters waiting for their train, which arrived on time.

Synonyms: come, appear, enter, turn up More Synonyms of arrive

2. intransitive verb

When you arrive at a place, you come to it for the first time in order to stay, live, or work there.

...in the old days before the European settlers arrived in the country.

3. intransitive verb

When something such as a letter or meal arrives, it is brought or delivered to you.

Breakfast arrived while he was in the bathroom.

4. intransitive verb

When something such as a new product or invention arrives, it becomes available.

Several long-awaited movies will finally arrive in the stores this month.

5. intransitive verb

When a particular moment or event arrives, it happens, especially after you have been waiting for it or expecting it.

The time has arrived when I need to give up smoking.

Synonyms: occur, happen, take place, ensue More Synonyms of arrive

6. intransitive verb

When you arrive at something such as a decision, you decide something after thinking about it or discussing it.

...if the jury cannot arrive at a unanimous decision.

More Synonyms of arrive

Video: pronunciation of
arrive

arrive in American English

(əˈraɪv )

verb intransitiveWord forms: arˈrived or arˈriving

to reach one's destination; come to a place

to come

the time has arrived for action

to attain success, fame, etc.

he has arrived professionally

Idioms:

arrive at

Word origin

ME ariven < OFr ariver < VL *arripare, come to shore, land < L ad-, to + ripa, shore

Word Frequency

arrive in American English

(əˈraiv) (verb -rived, -riving)

intransitive verb

to come to a certain point in the course of travel; reach one's destination

He finally arrived in Rome

to come to be near or present in time

The moment to act has arrived

to attain a position of success, power, achievement, fame, or the like

After years of hard work, she has finally arrived in her field

4. archaic

to happen

It arrived that the master had already departed

transitive verb

5. obsolete

to reach; come to

6. See arrive at

Derived forms

arriver

noun

Word origin

[1175–1225; ME a(r)riven ‹ OF a(r)river ‹ VL *arrīpāre to come to land, v. deriv. of L ad rīpam to the riverbank; cf. river1]

Word Frequency

arrivé in American English

(ˌæriˈvei, French aʀiˈvei)

nounWord forms: plural -vés (-ˈveiz, French -ˈvei)

a person who has swiftly gained wealth, status, success, or fame

Word origin

[1920–25; ‹ F: lit., arrived, n. use of ptp. of arriver to arrive]

Word Frequency

arrive in British English

(əˈraɪv )

verb (intransitive)

to come to a certain place during or after a journey; reach a destination

2. (foll by at)

to agree upon; reach

to arrive at a decision

to occur eventually

the moment arrived when pretence was useless

4. informal

(of a baby) to be born

5. informal

to attain success or gain recognition

Derived forms

arriver (arˈriver)

noun

Word origin

C13: from Old French ariver, from Vulgar Latin arrīpāre (unattested) to land, reach the bank, from Latin ad to + rīpa river bank

Examples of 'arrive' in a sentence
arrive

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He asked for his pencils the moment he arrived.We must pay great attention because when you arrive after three defeats you are very dangerous. Santiago had left the scene by the time police arrived.It arrived the day after the painter had taken a razor to his ear. Last night it finally arrived with time ticking away and the extra period looming.Who knows, the moment might have arrived.If the conditions are right for the club and that moment arrives in the months of January then we will react.She was taken to hospital but died shortly after arriving.So the new bus will arrive after a journey through adversity.Usually these take a few working days to arrive after the place is confirmed.