arrival
B1Neutral to formal; common in all registers.
Definition
Meaning
The act of reaching a destination or the moment when someone or something arrives.
The moment when a new idea, product, or person begins to have an impact or be noticed; the beginning of the presence or influence of something. In business, it can refer to a newly received product or shipment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun, but can be used uncountably (e.g., 'the arrival of spring'). Often implies a journey's end or the start of a new phase.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'arrival' identically for people and things. In transport contexts, 'arrivals hall/terminal/lounge' is standard in both.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the arrival of [NOUN/PERSON]arrival at [PLACE]arrival in [CITY/COUNTRY][POSSESSIVE] arrival (e.g., his arrival)upon/on arrivalVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dead on arrival (DOA)”
- “arrival of the fittest (play on 'survival of the fittest')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to received goods, new employees, or the launch of a product/service (e.g., 'The arrival of the new CEO changed the company culture.').
Academic
Used to describe the emergence of concepts, movements, or historical figures (e.g., 'The arrival of postmodernism challenged traditional narratives.').
Everyday
Used for people reaching a place, transport schedules, or events (e.g., 'We await the arrival of our guests.').
Technical
In logistics and computing, denotes an event or entity entering a system (e.g., 'The algorithm processes data upon its arrival.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The arrival time is 14:30.
- Check the arrival board for updates.
American English
- The arrival time is 2:30 PM.
- Check the arrivals screen for updates.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His arrival made everyone happy.
- The train's arrival is at 5 o'clock.
- We met at the airport after her arrival.
- Please check the arrival time online.
- The sudden arrival of the boss surprised the team.
- The arrival of spring brings warmer weather.
- Her arrival on the political scene was met with both praise and scepticism.
- Upon arrival at the hotel, guests are offered a welcome drink.
- The shipment's arrival has been delayed due to bad weather.
- The arrival of streaming services revolutionized the entertainment industry.
- His long-awaited arrival in the Premier League was a defining moment in his career.
- The report was dead on arrival, rejected by the committee without discussion.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a car 'riving' (a playful twist on 'driving') to a place and then adding 'al' at the end: ARRIVE + AL = ARRIVAL.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNING IS ARRIVAL (e.g., 'the arrival of a new era'); CHANGE IS ARRIVAL (e.g., 'the arrival of digital technology'); SUCCESS IS ARRIVAL (e.g., 'she has finally arrived in her career').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'прибытие', which is narrower (usually for transport/logistics). 'Arrival' can be more abstract (e.g., 'arrival of an idea').
- Avoid using 'arrival' for 'coming' in all contexts; 'приход' is often better for a person walking into a room.
- The phrase 'new arrival' often specifically means a newborn baby.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'arrival' as a verb (e.g., 'I will arrival tomorrow' – incorrect).
- Using wrong prepositions: 'arrival to' (incorrect) vs. 'arrival at/in' (correct).
- Misspelling as 'arival'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 'arrival'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily countable (e.g., 'There were three arrivals'). It can be uncountable when referring to the general concept or act (e.g., 'The arrival of mail is always welcome').
Use 'arrival at' for specific points like buildings, stations, or airports (e.g., 'arrival at the office'). Use 'arrival in' for cities, countries, or larger areas (e.g., 'arrival in London').
Yes. It is commonly used for transport (planes, trains), events ('arrival of monsoon'), ideas, and products ('arrival of new technology').
It most often refers to a recently born baby. It can also refer to a person who has just joined a group, community, or company.
Collections
Part of a collection
Travel Vocabulary
A2 · 50 words · Words for getting around, booking trips and visiting new places.