had almost arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had almost arrived" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something was very close to reaching a destination or a point in time in the past. Example: "By the time the train was scheduled to depart, we had almost arrived at the station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A year before the cigarette makers settled with the states, they had almost arrived at a different deal with the states that would have cost them even more.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

IT'S AN OVERCAST AND WINDY DAY, cold for June, but a strawberry stand across the road reminds us that summer has almost arrived in New Jersey.

Princeton University

After years of stress, in-fighting, anxiety and admin, the day has almost arrived: on 18 December, the results of the latest university research audit will be released.

The Guardian

Mother's Day has almost arrived, and as I struggle to come up with gift ideas, my thoughts turn toward the many holidays and family events I missed due to training, field operations and deployments.

The New York Times

11.53pm BST The List of Amazing Things We Don't Have Time to Do (continued) Marcel has almost arrived in Denver, the end point of his 1,000-mile 1,000-mile– theroadave been phenomenal reader trip thereghave, beentoo little time and too much ground for him to reach them all.

The Guardian

Now that the iPhone has almost arrived, Apple is starting work on a new version of the iPod and possibly the iPhone.

TechCrunch

It's been a staple of science throughout the centuries: the arrogant thinking that we've almost arrived at the ultimate answers to our deepest questions.

Forbes

They feel like they've almost arrived — they don't realize there's a border, and that their troubles aren't over yet".

Vice

During the terrorist siege at a public school in Beslan in 2004, which ended with a fire spreading through the roof of a gymnasium crowded with hostages, the first fire trucks to arrive had almost no water.

The New York Times

He had almost no money when he arrived in Paris, so he lived in a series of fleapit hotels for two dollars a night.

The New Yorker

Appointed to Warwick in 1967, two years after the university was founded and before any students arrived, he had almost three years to develop an ethos, design a groundbreaking curriculum and recruit a lively team of like-minded younger colleagues from several countries.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had almost arrived" to clearly indicate that an event or a person was very close to reaching a specific destination or point in time in the past but did not fully reach it. It sets a clear expectation of proximity without completion.

Common error

Avoid using "had almost arrived" when the arrival actually occurred. The phrase implies that the arrival was close but ultimately didn't happen. If the arrival was completed, use "had arrived" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had almost arrived" functions as a past perfect construction indicating a state of near completion or proximity to a destination or event in the past that was not fully realized. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had almost arrived" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate a state of near completion or close proximity to a destination or event in the past. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is valid and useful in English writing. It is most frequently found in news and media, scientific, and academic contexts, conveying anticipation, near success, or potential disappointment. When using this phrase, ensure that the arrival or event did not actually occur; otherwise, consider using "had arrived" or another appropriate alternative. Understanding these nuances ensures clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had nearly arrived

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", maintaining the same meaning of being close to arrival.

was on the verge of arriving

Indicates being very close to arriving, emphasizing the imminence of the arrival.

was close to arriving

A simpler way of saying "had almost arrived", focusing on proximity.

had practically arrived

Replaces "almost" with "practically", suggesting a high degree of certainty of arrival.

had all but arrived

Similar to "practically arrived", indicating that only a small thing was left before arrival.

had come within reach of arriving

Focuses on the achievement of getting close to arrival.

had virtually arrived

Suggests that for all practical purposes, arrival had been achieved.

was just about to arrive

Indicates the arrival was expected imminently.

was nearing arrival

Highlights the process of approaching the point of arrival.

had approached arrival

Focuses on the action of getting closer to the point of arrival.

FAQs

How do I use "had almost arrived" in a sentence?

Use "had almost arrived" to describe a situation where something or someone was very close to reaching a destination or achieving something, but didn't quite make it. For example, "By the time the ambulance arrived, it was too late, they "had almost arrived" at the hospital".

What can I say instead of "had almost arrived"?

You can use alternatives such as "had nearly arrived", "was close to arriving", or "was on the verge of arriving" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had almost arrived" or "almost had arrived"?

"Had almost arrived" is the standard and grammatically correct phrasing. "Almost had arrived" is less common and can sound awkward in formal writing.

What's the difference between "had almost arrived" and "had finally arrived"?

"Had almost arrived" suggests that the arrival was close but didn't happen, while "had finally arrived" implies that the arrival did occur, possibly after a long delay or anticipation. They have opposite meanings.