arrive

1 of 3

verb

ar·​rive ə-ˈrīv How to pronounce arrive (audio)
arrived; arriving
Synonyms of arrivenext

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
see also:
arrive at

arrivé

2 of 3

noun (1)

ar·​ri·​vé ˌa-ri-ˈvā How to pronounce arrivé (audio)
: one who has risen rapidly to success, power, or fame

arriver

3 of 3

noun (2)

ar·​riv·​er
əˈrīvə(r)
plural -s
: one that arrives

Synonyms of arrive

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Leaders making these cuts now are betting on which outcome arrives. — Cindy Rodriguez Constable, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The cooling technology is a life saver time of year when dangerous heat arrives. — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
Spring planting allows roots to establish themselves before the heat of summer or the cold of winter arrives. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026 And what better way to do that than by storming a Walmart in Texas and partying until the boys in blue arrive on scene? — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 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 (1)

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 (1)

1866, in the meaning defined above

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

Phrases Containing arrive

Rhymes for arrive

See All Rhymes for arrive

Browse Nearby Words

arrivance
arrive
arrivé
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Arrive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of arrive for Spanish Speakers

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