arrive

verb

uh-RYV/əˈɹaɪv/

Formsarrives, arriving, arrived

7 meanings of arrive

Practice

1
get thereverbintransitive
To get to the place you were going to.
Like getting to school after the bus drops you off.
We arrive at the airport two hours before the flight.
The train arrives at noon.
UsageSay arrive at the station, arrive in London (not ~~incorrect: arrive to~~ London), and just arrive home.
2
time comesverbintransitive
Of a time or day, to come at last.
Like a birthday that finally comes after a long wait.
When better days arrive, we will celebrate.
Winter arrived early this year.
Similarcome, dawn
Oppositepass
3
happenverbintransitive
To happen or take place.
Like a surprise that shows up when you are not ready for it.
Big changes often arrive without warning.
The crisis arrived sooner than anyone expected.
Similaroccur, arise, happen, emerge, materialize
Note
4
reach a decisionverbintransitive
To come to a decision or an answer after thinking or talking about it, used with "at".
After an hour of talking, we finally arrived at a plan.
It took her a long time to arrive at the right answer.
UsageSay arrive at a decision or an answer. Reach a decision means the same.
Similarreach
5
succeedverbintransitive
To become successful or well known.
Like finally reaching the top of a hill after a long climb.
Young bands play tiny clubs for years, hoping they will one day arrive.
She had truly arrived after winning the award.
UsageOften have arrived, with nothing after it: she had finally arrived.
Similarsucceed
Oppositefail
Note

Less common meanings

6
be bornverbintransitive
Of a baby, to be born.
Their first baby arrived just after midnight.
The twins could arrive any day now.
Similarcome
7
orgasmverbslangvulgarIrelandUKintransitive
To reach orgasm.
UsageIt has no place after it, so a line like arrived too soon can be heard this way.
Similarclimax, come

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of arrive apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It came through Old French ariver from a Latin word meaning "to come to shore," based on the Latin word for a river-bank or shore.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

English arrive came through Old French ariver. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin source meant 'to come to shore'. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin verb was based on rīpa, meaning 'river-bank or shore'. en.wiktionary.org