Arrival: The Moment of Getting There, and the Person Who Just Did
An arrival is the act of reaching a place, the time it happens, and also the person or thing that has just come. Airports use all three meanings at once.
An arrival is the act of reaching a destination. English also uses it for the *time* of reaching it and for the *newcomer* themselves: *the new arrival weighed seven pounds*.
- The act of reaching a place. *Her arrival caused a stir.*
- A scheduled time. *Arrivals are on the lower floor.*
- A newcomer. *The latest arrival at the shelter.*
- The beginning of something. *The arrival of spring.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | arrival | On arrival, report to reception. |
| Plural | arrivals | Delayed arrivals. |
| Verb | arrive | We arrive at noon. |
| Past | arrived | The parcel arrived. |
| Opposite | departure | Departures are upstairs. |
How it is used in a sentence
- On arrival, please hand in your passport.A fixed formal phrase; no article.
- The arrivals board showed three delays.Attributive use.
- The arrival of the internet changed the industry.The beginning of something new.
Arrive at, arrive in, arrive on
| Preposition | Used with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| arrive at | Buildings, points, small places | Arrive at the station |
| arrive in | Countries, cities, large areas | Arrive in Japan |
| arrive on | Days and dates | Arrive on Monday |
From Old French *ariver*, to come to shore, from Latin *ad ripam* — to the bank. Every arrival was originally a landing.
Is it arrive to?
No. English uses arrive at, arrive in or arrive on. *Arrive to* is a common error, usually from speakers of languages that use a single preposition.
What is a new arrival?
A newcomer — often a baby, sometimes a new employee, product or animal.