arrive
arrive
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling: /əˈraɪv/
First Syllable (/ə/):
/ə/ - a schwa sound, like the 'a' in 'about'
Second Syllable (/raɪv/):
/r/ - a voiced alveolar approximant, like the 'r' in 'red'
/aɪ/ - a diphthong, like the 'i' in 'light'
/v/ - a voiced labiodental fricative, like the 'v' in 'vote'
Word Form Variations
Base Form: arrive
Third-person singular present: arrives
Present participle: arriving
Past tense: arrived
Past participle: arrived
Noun form (related): arrival (singular), arrivals (plural)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To reach a destination or place, especially at the end of a journey or a period of travel.
Synonyms: reach, get to, come, appear, show up
Antonyms: depart, leave, set off, go
To happen or occur, especially after a period of waiting or development; to come into existence or prominence.
Synonyms: happen, occur, appear, emerge, materialize
Antonyms: vanish, disappear, cease, end, fade
To achieve a particular state, condition, or understanding.
Synonyms: achieve, attain, reach, succeed, accomplish
Antonyms: fail, miss, fall short
Noun (Related Term: Arrival)
The act of arriving; a coming to a place.
Synonyms: coming, appearance, entry, advent
Antonyms: departure, leaving, exit, goodbye
A person or thing that has arrived.
Synonyms: newcomer, entrant, visitor, shipment
Antonyms: (no direct antonyms for this sense)
Examples of Use
Books:
"When he arrived at the station, the train had already left." (Excerpt from a fictional novel)
"The detective meticulously pieced together the clues, hoping to understand how the perpetrator arrived at such a sinister plan." (From a mystery novel)
Newspapers:
"Emergency services arrived on the scene within minutes of the accident." ("Local News Daily," 2025)
"Economists predict that the new policy will allow the country to arrive at a period of sustained growth." ("Financial Times," 2025)
Online Publications:
"Tech giant unveils new smartphone, promising it will arrive with groundbreaking features." (TechCrunch.com, June 18, 2025)
"Travelers are advised to check flight statuses before heading to the airport, as delays are expected for planes due to arrive this evening." (ThePointsGuy.com, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film Dialogue: "I knew you'd arrive eventually, Mr. Bond." (From a spy film, specific title omitted)
Song Lyrics: "We'll keep on fighting till we arrive at the light." (From a pop song)
Video Game: (On-screen prompt) "Your quest will truly begin when you arrive at the ancient ruins." (In-game text from an RPG)
Podcast: "Our next guest is about to arrive and share their insights on the future of renewable energy." (From a podcast episode)
Social Media (X/Twitter): "Just watched the most incredible sunset! Feeling so grateful to have arrived at this moment. #blessed #travel" (@UserTravels, 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"What time do you think they'll arrive for dinner tonight?" (Casual conversation among friends)
"We need to arrive at a consensus before we can move forward with this project." (During a business meeting)
"I hope my package arrives before the weekend." (Person discussing an online order)
"It's exciting to see how far we've come and where we might arrive in the next decade." (Speech at a community event)
10 Famous Quotes Using Arrive
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." The relevant part here for 'arrive' is the implication that through striving, one can 'arrive' at triumph, a common metaphorical use of the word meaning to reach a state of accomplishment. (Theodore Roosevelt, "Citizenship in a Republic" speech, 1910)
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." While not using 'arrive,' this proverb strongly implies the eventual arrival at a destination, making it a metaphorical synonym for the process of arriving. (Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching)
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle." The quote's essence is about finding and reaching one's passion, which can be interpreted as 'arriving' at one's true calling. (Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Address, 2005)
"We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." This quote implies the necessity of collective action to 'arrive' at a shared positive outcome (freedom) rather than a negative one (execution). (Benjamin Franklin, attributed)
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!" While "arrive" isn't explicitly used, King's vision describes a future state of equality and justice that the nation will metaphorically "arrive at." (Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream" speech, 1963)
"When you arrive at a place, and the place is silent, it means you've come to the right place." (Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore)
"I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." This humorous quote highlights the idea of aiming for a goal, or to "arrive" at a certain status, but the lack of specificity leading to an unfulfilled aspiration. (Lily Tomlin, attributed)
"Man can only arrive at the knowledge of his true end by freeing himself from the bonds of his own desires." (Baruch Spinoza, Ethics)
"The artist is not a special kind of person, but every person is a special kind of artist." This quote speaks to the potential for creativity within everyone, suggesting that one can "arrive" at artistic expression through self-discovery. (Ananda Coomaraswamy, attributed)
"The moment we cease to hold each other, we arrive at our destination." (Rainer Maria Rilke, Duino Elegies)
Etymology
The word "arrive" has a fascinating journey through languages, starting from a very specific meaning related to water travel.
Imagine people in ancient times traveling by boat. They would eventually reach the edge of the land. That's where "arrive" comes in!
The word "arrive" comes from the Latin phrase "ad ripam," which literally means "to the shore" or "to the riverbank."
From "ad ripam," it evolved into a Vulgar Latin word, something like arripare, meaning "to touch the shore."
This then made its way into Old French as "ariver" (around the 11th century), still carrying the meaning of "to come to land" or "to come to shore," especially after a sea voyage.
Finally, around the year 1200, the word "arrive" entered English from Anglo-French. Its first known meaning in English was precisely that: "to reach land, especially after a journey by sea."
So, originally, "arrive" was a sailor's term, focused on disembarking from a ship. Over time, its meaning broadened to include reaching any destination, whether by land, air, or even a metaphorical destination like a conclusion or a state of mind.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Arrive
Arrive at a decision/conclusion/understanding: To reach a final judgment, insight, or agreement after consideration.
Arrive on the scene: To appear at a place where something has happened, often unexpectedly or promptly.
Arrive in style: To make a grand or impressive entrance.
Arrive late to the party: (Idiom) To miss the initial excitement or opportunities; to be behind the times. (Often used metaphorically).
Arrive home: To reach one's residence.
Arrive in numbers: To come in large quantities or groups.
Arrive with bells on: (Idiom, lesser-known/dated) To arrive eagerly and enthusiastically, ready for a celebration.
When my ship comes in: (Idiom, using a synonym "come in" for a related concept of arrival and fortune) When one's fortune or success finally materializes.
To get there in the end: (Phrase, using a synonym "get there" for achieving a goal or destination) To eventually succeed or reach a desired outcome.
The penny dropped: (Idiom, metaphorical arrival of understanding) A sudden realization or understanding of something.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of arrive from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
