Meaning & use
arrived
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“arrived” is a form of “arrive”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Reached a place, especially at the end of a journey; came to a destination.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by in or at: They arrived in Paris. We arrived at the station.
Patterns
- arrived in a place
- arrived at a place
- arrived home
- arrived late/early
The train arrived at the station twenty minutes late.
We arrived in Tokyo on a rainy Monday morning.
By the time I arrived home, everyone was already asleep.
verbintransitive
(Of a thing or message) was delivered or reached someone.
Grammar: No object; the thing that comes is the subject: Your letter arrived yesterday.
Patterns
- arrived in the mail
- arrived by email
- arrived on time
The package arrived two days after I ordered it.
Her reply arrived while I was out shopping.
verbintransitive
(Of a time or event) finally came or happened.
Grammar: No object; often used with abstract subjects such as moment, day, or winter.
Patterns
- the moment arrived
- the day arrived
- winter arrived
The day of the exam finally arrived.
Winter arrived early that year, with snow in October.
verbintransitiveeuphemistic
(Of a baby) was born.
Grammar: No object; a gentle or slightly formal way to say a baby was born.
Patterns
- the baby arrived
- arrived safely
Their first baby arrived just before midnight.
The twins arrived three weeks early.
verbintransitiveinformalfigurative
(Informal) became successful or well known.
Grammar: No object; often used after a period of effort, as in 'She has really arrived'.
Patterns
- have arrived
- really arrived
After years of small roles, the young actor has finally arrived.
Once the brand opened a store on Fifth Avenue, it had arrived.
Word forms
| base form | arrive |
|---|---|
| third person singular | arrives |
| present participle | arriving |
| past tense | arrived |
| past participle | arrived |
Common combinations
- arrive at a decision
- After hours of discussion, the committee arrived at a decision.
- arrive on time
- Please make sure you arrive on time for the interview.
- arrive safely
- Text me when you arrive safely at the hotel.
- arrive just as
- We arrived just as the concert was starting.
- newly arrived
- The newly arrived students were given a tour of the campus.
Synonyms and how they differ
- reach
- Reach is transitive and needs an object (reach the airport), while arrive is intransitive and takes in or at.
- get to
- Get to is more informal and also transitive: I got to the office late.
- turn up
- Turn up is informal British English and often suggests arriving unexpectedly or casually.
Opposites
Word family
- arrival noun
- The act of reaching a place, or the person or thing that has come.
- arrivals noun
- The plural form, often used for the area of an airport where passengers come out.
Commonly confused: arrived or arrive to?
arrived vs arrive to
Learners often write 'arrive to' by mistake; standard English uses arrive in a city or country, and arrive at a building, station, or event.
Practice
Which sentence uses arrived correctly?
Choose one answer.
Arrive is intransitive and takes in before cities and countries, so 'arrived in London' is right. 'Arrived to' is not standard, 'arrived London' has no preposition, and 'at' is used for smaller places like a station, not a whole city.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “arrived”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.