close to arriving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to arriving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something is nearly at a destination or about to reach a certain point. Example: "The train is close to arriving at the station, so please have your tickets ready."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The airports are set to close to arriving flights at noon.

The New York Times

The three men met at least 13 times between Feb. 5 and April 28, but never came close to arriving at a solution.

The New York Times

Analysts are not so sure that BYD or any other Chinese manufacturer is that close to arriving in the United States.

The New York Times

And so when they were close to arriving to the next village, the son got down from the back of the donkey and walked on foot, so the people of the village would not say what the people in the last village had said.

The Economist

Yet with the Dutchman complaining about Manchester United's commercial demands impacting on his preparation – he actually questioned if the club was "too big" before this friendly – Van Gaal will not have been encouraged by coming close to arriving late for the 20.06 kick-off time due to the LA traffic.

The Guardian - Sport

Others, meanwhile, will argue that – based on existing evidence – we may be close to arriving at that standard, and to go lower requires further investigation.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

3. Airports: Starting at noon on Saturday, all three major airports in the region will be closed to arriving flights.

The New York Times

The airport was closed to arriving and departing traffic for just half an hour, but as a result almost 200 flights were cancelled.

Independent

The fog joined with malfunctioning lights to close two runways to arriving flights at the Twin Cities airport.

The New York Times

These are the sounds you will combine in close succession to arrive at "st".

WikiHow

"The North Fork of Long Island is getting really close to having arrived".

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to arriving" when you want to emphasize the nearness of a person or object to their destination, whether physical or metaphorical. For instance, "The project is close to arriving at completion."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "close to arriving" with phrases that imply causation or purpose. For example, avoid using "close to arriving" when you actually mean "in order to arrive" or "because they were arriving."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to arriving" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating proximity to a point of arrival. Ludwig examples show it's used to describe physical locations, abstract goals, or even points in time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

35%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "close to arriving" is a correct and relatively uncommon phrase used to indicate proximity to a destination or point of arrival. As noted by Ludwig, its register is neutral, making it appropriate for diverse contexts from news and media to scientific writing. When using the phrase, ensure you are clearly conveying nearness rather than causation or purpose. Remember to avoid ambiguity with similar-sounding phrases. Several alternatives, such as "almost arriving" or "nearing arrival", can add subtle variations in meaning, so choose the most appropriate one for your context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearing arrival

This alternative directly replaces "close to" with "nearing", emphasizing the act of approaching the arrival.

almost arriving

This alternative emphasizes the proximity to the moment of arrival.

approaching arrival

This focuses on the action of getting closer to the arrival.

on the verge of arriving

This phrase indicates being at the very edge or brink of arriving.

about to arrive

This suggests imminence, indicating that arrival is expected very soon.

nearly arriving

This is a direct synonym, simply substituting "close" with "nearly".

drawing near to arrival

This is a more descriptive and emphatic way of saying arrival is approaching.

fast approaching arrival

This adds the element of speed, suggesting a rapid approach to arrival.

in the vicinity of arrival

It indicates the general area or region near the point of arrival.

coming closer to arrival

This alternative highlights the progressive action of approaching.

FAQs

How can I use "close to arriving" in a sentence?

You can use "close to arriving" to indicate that something is nearly at a destination or about to reach a certain point. For example: "The package is "close to arriving" at your doorstep."

What can I say instead of "close to arriving"?

You can use alternatives like "nearing arrival", "almost arriving", or "about to arrive" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "closed to arriving" instead of "close to arriving"?

No, "closed to arriving" has a different meaning. "Closed" implies something is shut or inaccessible, while "close" in "close to arriving" means near or approximate.

What's the difference between "close to arriving" and "close to departure"?

"Close to arriving" refers to the end of a journey, meaning nearly at the destination. "Close to departure", on the other hand, refers to the beginning of a journey, meaning nearly ready to leave.