Arriving is the present participle of arrive, describing the act of reaching a destination or point in time. It denotes motion toward something and commonly conveys anticipation or preparation for what comes next. In communication, it often links with prepositions and adverbs to indicate the moment of reaching a place or the onset of a subsequent event.
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"We’re arriving in Paris tomorrow morning."
"The package is arriving late due to weather delays."
"She’s arriving at the conference early to prepare her booth."
"Arriving just in time, he grabbed the last seat."
Arriving traces to the Old French verb arriver, from late Latin ad ripare, meaning to reach or to come to. The term in English developed through Norman influence, with arriving appearing as a present participle form from arrive, which itself comes from the Latin ad- ‘toward’ + rabere/rapere roots in the sense of attaining or reaching. The modern sense of “to reach a destination or conclusion” solidified in Early Modern English as travel and arrival idioms became common. The word arrived into general use by the 14th–15th centuries with the broader adoption of the verb arrive in maritime and land travel contexts. Over time, arriving gained popularity in continuous tenses and participial phrases, becoming a standard gerund-participle form used in progressive aspects and as adjectives in noun phrases (e.g., arriving train, arriving passengers). Etymological development reflects broader shifts in travel, transport, and communication as societies formalized schedules, routes, and event timelines.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "arriving" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "arriving"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as a-RY-ving with the primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈraɪvɪŋ/. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then the long diphthong /aɪ/ for the second syllable, ending with /vɪŋ/. In careful speech, enunciate the -ing clearly: /ɪŋ/. Audio reference: consider listening to native speech on Pronounce or YouGlish for examples like 'arriving at the station.'
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying ar-RIVING), and shortening the vowel or dropping the /v/ (arrin’ or ariving without the /v/). Another pitfall is a too-weak /ɪŋ/ ending, making it sound like /ɪn/. Correct by keeping primary stress on the second syllable, producing /əˈraɪvɪŋ/, ensuring the /v/ is voiced and the final /ɪŋ/ is crisp.
In US English, you’ll hear /əˈraɪvɪŋ/ with a rhotic r and a clear /v/. UK speakers keep /əˈraɪvɪŋ/ but may have a shorter, clipped vowel in fast speech and less rhoticity in certain dialects. Australian pronunciation tends to be similar to General US/UK but with a brighter vowel quality in /aɪ/ and often less prominent /r/. Overall, the main difference lies in vowel quality and r-lessness in non-rhotic varieties.
The challenge is maintaining the two-morpheme structure /əˈraɪ/ with a strong diphthong in the stressed syllable and a clear, voiced /v/ before the final /ɪŋ/. Some speakers reduce the /ə/ or merge /ɪŋ/ into /n/ or /ŋ/ in casual speech. Practice the sequence: soft initial schwa, strong /aɪ/ diphthong, voiced /v/, and crisp /ɪŋ/. Visualize mouth positions and use slow, deliberate enunciation as you transition between syllables.
A distinctive feature is sustaining the /v/ sound as you move into the nasal /ɪŋ/. Some learners slip into /vaŋ/ or omit the /v/. Emphasize the labiodental /v/ by gently touching the bottom lip to the upper teeth and voicing, then move directly into the /ɪŋ/ with a clean velar-nasal closure. This ensures the sequence /vɪŋ/ remains audible and natural.
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