arrival

noun

ar·​riv·​al ə-ˈrī-vəl How to pronounce arrival (audio)
1
: the act of arriving
2
: the attainment of an end or state
3
: one that has recently arrived
new arrivals

Examples of arrival in a Sentence

They were awaiting the arrival of guests. When is the mail scheduled for arrival? They track the number of airport arrivals and departures. They were late arrivals at the party. They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their wedding day. the changes that occur with the arrival of spring the arrival of new technology
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Motion denied From one old idea whose time has come again to another, with one of this column’s regular updates on the imminent arrival of an independent regulator for the professional men’s game in England. Matt Slater, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Karel De Vries, who successfully led the teams in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands during the recruitment process for the German MD position, will be transitioning to the role of Netherlands MD upon Kalle’s arrival. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 30 Apr. 2025 Yet in a nation where 42 percent of adults live with obesity—a rate that has nearly doubled since the 1980s—the arrival of a drug that actually works was hard to ignore. Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025 Despite being a new arrival, the Merokeety set already has a 4.3-star average rating and more than 200 perfect ratings. Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arrival

Word History

Etymology

Middle English arivaile, arrival "act of arriving, landing, disembarkation," borrowed from Anglo-French arrivayle, arivail, from ariver, arriver "to arrive entry 1" + -ayle, -ail, in part going back to Latin -ālis -al entry 2, in part a collective suffix going back to Latin -ālia, from neuter plural of -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of arrival was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Arrival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrival. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

arrival

noun
ar·​riv·​al ə-ˈrī-vəl How to pronounce arrival (audio)
1
: the act of arriving
await the arrival of guests
2
: a person or thing that has arrived
late arrivals at a concert

More from Merriam-Webster on arrival

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