> Arrive vs. Come vs. Get: understanding the differences between these English verbs for movement and reaching a place.
In English, arrive, come, and get are all verbs related to movement or reaching a place, but they are used in different contexts and have distinct meanings. Understanding the differences will help you choose the right word depending on the situation.
Arrive
The verb arrive means to reach a destination, especially after a journey. It is more formal and focuses on the moment of reaching the place.
- Used for reaching a specific place, often after travel
- Usually followed by prepositions: arrive at (for buildings, stations) or arrive in (for cities, countries)
- Does not include the idea of moving towards the speaker
Come
The verb come means to move towards the speaker or the current location. It focuses on the direction of movement relative to the speaker’s position.
- Implies movement towards where the speaker is or will be
- Can be used for both near and future locations
- More general and common in everyday conversation
Get
The verb get can mean to arrive, but it is more informal. It also has other meanings like “obtain” or “become,” so context is important.
- In informal speech, get to means “arrive at”
- Can be used with many other meanings, so the context clarifies whether it means “arrive”
- Often used in phrasal verbs (e.g., get home, get to work)
Summary
| Verb | Meaning | Usage Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrive | Reach a destination (formal) | They arrived at the airport at 6 p.m. | Focus on the moment of arrival |
| Come | Move towards the speaker | Can you come to my house? | Focus on direction relative to speaker |
| Get | Arrive (informal) | What time did you get home? | Also means obtain or become; context needed |
Understanding these differences will help you describe movement and reaching places more accurately in English.
Last updated: Sat May 31, 2025
