to arrive at

USAGE SUMMARY

"to arrive at" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate arriving at a particular place or arriving at a conclusion or decision. Example sentence: After careful consideration, we have decided to arrive at the conclusion that the project is not feasible at this time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Does the study pretend to arrive at robust results?

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Guests began to arrive at five o'clock.

The New Yorker

What do you want to arrive at?

The New York Times

Those invited to his death planned to arrive at midnight.

The New Yorker

He's going to arrive at the train station, early afternoon.

The New Yorker

I didn't feel rushed to arrive at conclusions or solutions.

The New York Times

It took us decades to arrive at this dubious distinction.

The New York Times

Those documents began to arrive at union offices Monday night.

The New York Times

The trick is to arrive at a happy mean.

Independent

Everyone was scheduled to arrive at the same time.

The New Yorker

But it took time to arrive at this trust".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to arrive at" when you want to emphasize the process of reaching a destination or conclusion, rather than just the end result.

Common error

Avoid using "to arrive at" when a simpler verb like "be" or "reach" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to arrive at" functions primarily as a prepositional verb phrase. It connects the action of arriving with a specific location, conclusion, or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase for indicating reaching a destination or a decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

6%

Unknown/unmatched sources

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to arrive at" is a versatile prepositional verb phrase used to denote reaching a destination or a conclusion. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias, the phrase maintains a neutral to formal register. While various alternatives exist, such as "to reach" or "to conclude", "to arrive at" uniquely emphasizes the process of reaching a specific point or outcome. As such, it is essential to ensure appropriate usage, avoiding overuse in informal contexts where simpler verbs might suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to reach

Focuses on the destination itself, simplifying the phrase.

to attain

Implies achieving something, often a goal or objective, rather than a physical location.

to conclude

Specifically refers to reaching a conclusion or decision.

to determine

Highlights the process of finding something out or establishing something definitively.

to achieve

Emphasizes accomplishment or success in reaching a certain point.

to figure out

Suggests a problem-solving aspect to reaching a conclusion.

to get to

A more informal way of saying "to arrive at", often used in spoken English.

to come to

Indicates a gradual process of reaching a conclusion or agreement.

to end up at

Suggests that the arrival was not necessarily planned or intended.

to land at

Emphasizes the finality and completion of the arrival.

FAQs

How can I use "to arrive at" in a sentence?

You can use "to arrive at" to indicate reaching a physical location, as in, "They planned to arrive at the hotel by noon". It can also mean reaching a conclusion, such as, "After much debate, the committee was able to arrive at a decision".

What are some alternatives to "to arrive at"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "to reach", "to attain", "to conclude", or "to determine".

Is it better to use "arrive at" or "reach"?

"Arrive at" and "reach" are often interchangeable, but "arrive at" can imply a more complex or deliberate process of getting somewhere or reaching a conclusion, while "reach" is more direct.

When is it inappropriate to use "to arrive at"?

It might be inappropriate to use "to arrive at" in very informal contexts or when a simpler word like "be" or "get to" would suffice. For example, instead of saying "I'm trying to arrive at an understanding", you could say "I'm trying to understand".