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Meaning & use

arrival

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/əˈraɪvl/
US/əˈraɪvl/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable or uncountable

    The act or moment of reaching a place at the end of a journey.

    Grammar: Usually followed by at, in or of: arrival at the airport; the arrival of the train.

    Patterns

    • arrival at something
    • arrival in something
    • the arrival of someone

    Our arrival at the hotel was delayed by traffic.

    Guests were greeted on arrival with a cold drink.

    The arrival of the evening train drew a crowd.

  2. nouncountable

    A person or thing that has just come to a place.

    Grammar: Usually plural or preceded by new or late: the late arrivals took the back seats.

    Patterns

    • a new arrival

    The new arrivals queued at the registration desk.

    Late arrivals were asked to wait outside until the break.

    Our family has a new arrival: my niece was born on Sunday.

  3. nouncountable or uncountable

    The point at which something new first appears or begins to be present.

    Grammar: Often followed by of and a thing or idea: the arrival of spring.

    Patterns

    • the arrival of something

    The arrival of cheap flights changed how people traveled.

    Farmers welcomed the arrival of the rains.

    Scientists are still debating the arrival of the first humans in the region.

Word forms

pluralarrivals

Common combinations

on arrival
Passengers must show their passports on arrival.
expected arrival
The expected arrival time is six o'clock.
safe arrival
We called to confirm their safe arrival.
new arrival
The new arrival in the village opened a bakery.
await someone's arrival
The crowd awaited the singer's arrival.
arrivals hall
I will meet you in the arrivals hall.

Synonyms and how they differ

coming
Coming is more everyday and slightly poetic, as in the coming of winter.
appearance
Appearance emphasizes becoming visible, not completing a journey.
entrance
Entrance means the moment of coming into a room or onto a stage, not the whole trip.
advent
Advent is formal and suggests the beginning of an important era or invention.

Opposites

departureexit

Word family

arrive verb
to reach a place, or for a time or event to come
arrived adjective
having achieved success
arrivals noun
the part of a station or airport where people come in

Commonly confused: arrival or arrive?

arrival vs arrive

Arrive is the verb and arrival is the noun: we arrive at noon, but our arrival is at noon.

Practice

Visitors are asked to sign in on ___ at the front desk.

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