seeing the arrival

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seeing the arrival" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of witnessing or observing someone or something arriving at a location. Example: "I stood at the station, seeing the arrival of the long-awaited train."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Perhaps we're seeing the arrival of a "shy Labour" effect?

The Guardian

"Is this when we're seeing the arrival of these new folks, the ones we call Native Americans now?" he asked.

The New York Times - Science

With the previous weekend seeing the arrival of Pedro Almodóvar's I'm So Excited, rival arthouse distributors gave that date a miss.

The Guardian - Film

At nine o'clock local time on Saturday night (7 pm British time) a number of eye-witnesses at Kenya's busy international airport reported seeing the arrival of three troop transport planes, allegedly Israeli C131 military aircraft.

The Guardian

Having said that, UK distributors are giving Jurassic World some breathing room, with the coming weekend seeing the arrival of relatively middling contenders Entourage, Nicholas Sparks adaptation The Longest Ride, and Ian McKellen as a retired Sherlock Holmes in Mr Holmes.

The Guardian - Film

We are already seeing the arrival of new, nakedly commercial enterprises offering fixed price wills or conveyancing, breaking those transactions down into discrete elements many of which can be provided by relatively unqualified (low-cost) staff supported by specialist legal software.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The year also saw the arrival of the explanatory title.

The Guardian

This late stage saw the arrival of Scotland Yard.

The Guardian

The same year saw the arrival of the American version, situated on Randall's Island, Manhattan.

The Economist

Stanley, another retired lawyer, "often sees the arrival of the funeral home car over at nursing.

The New York Times - Books

The coming year will see the arrival of MOOC digital textbooks and mobile apps.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seeing the arrival" when you want to emphasize the act of witnessing something's beginning or appearance. For instance, "Seeing the arrival of spring, the birds began to sing."

Common error

Avoid confusing "seeing the arrival" with phrases like "seeing to the arrival", which implies ensuring something arrives safely or is properly managed. The former describes witnessing; the latter describes facilitating.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seeing the arrival" functions as a gerund phrase, often acting as a noun. It describes the act of perceiving or witnessing something's commencement. As shown in Ludwig, this is used to describe the action of observing an event.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Film

20%

General

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "seeing the arrival" functions as a gerund phrase that describes the act of witnessing something's commencement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, it finds its place particularly in news, film, and general contexts. Alternatives such as "witnessing the arrival" or "observing the arrival" offer similar meanings, although with slightly different nuances. When using "seeing the arrival", ensure it aligns with the intended meaning of directly witnessing an event, rather than implying facilitation or management of the arrival process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

witnessing the arrival

Replaces "seeing" with "witnessing", emphasizing a more formal observation.

observing the arrival

Substitutes "seeing" with "observing", suggesting a more careful and intentional act of watching.

watching the arrival

Emphasizes the continuous act of watching as something arrives.

noticing the arrival

Uses "noticing" instead of "seeing", highlighting the act of becoming aware of the arrival.

viewing the arrival

Substitutes "seeing" with "viewing", suggesting a deliberate and focused observation.

spotting the arrival

Replaces "seeing" with "spotting", implying a quick or sudden observation.

detecting the arrival

Substitutes "seeing" with "detecting", suggesting the arrival was subtle or required effort to notice.

perceiving the arrival

Replaces "seeing" with "perceiving", indicating a more sensory and comprehensive awareness.

attending the arrival

Changes the focus from observing to being present at the arrival.

experiencing the arrival

Shifts the meaning to encompass a more holistic and personal encounter with the arrival.

FAQs

How can I use "seeing the arrival" in a sentence?

You can use "seeing the arrival" to describe the act of witnessing someone or something's commencement or appearance. For example: "Seeing the arrival of the guests, she went to greet them".

What can I say instead of "seeing the arrival"?

You can use alternatives like "witnessing the arrival", "observing the arrival", or "noticing the arrival" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "seeing to the arrival" instead of "seeing the arrival"?

While "seeing the arrival" means witnessing an event, "seeing to the arrival" implies ensuring that something arrives safely or is properly managed. They have different meanings and are not interchangeable.

What is the difference between "witnessing the arrival" and "seeing the arrival"?

Both "witnessing the arrival" and "seeing the arrival" are similar, but "witnessing" often suggests a more formal or significant observation compared to the more general "seeing".