Cool MateArrive vs Turns up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Arrive
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Turns up
Top 1,000 (very common)
| Arrive | Turns up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈraɪv/","/əˈraɪvz/","/əˈraɪvd/","/əˈraɪvɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈraɪv/","/əˈraɪvz/","/əˈraɪvd/","/əˈraɪvɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɜːn ʌp//🇺🇸 //tɜrn ʌp// |
| Meaning | To reach a place that you were going to. | To appear unexpectedly or arrive. |
| Example | We will arrive at the airport by noon. | She always turns up at the most unexpected times. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | early, late, shortly, be due to, fail to, at, in, the first to arrive, the last to arrive, early, late, shortly, be due to, fail to, at, in, the first to arrive, the last to arrive | turn up late, turn up missing, turn up the volume, turn up the heat, turn up the music |
| Antonyms | depart, leave | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'arrive at' with 'arrive in'., Using 'arrived to' instead of 'arrived at/in'. | Confusing with 'turn down' which means to reject., Using with a noun directly; it only works with a subject that performs an action. |
| Usage notes | Use 'arrive at' for specific locations (e.g., 'arrive at the airport') and 'arrive in' for larger areas (e.g., 'arrive in Paris'). Avoid using in very formal contexts; consider synonyms like 'reach' instead. | Use 'turn up' when someone arrives or appears, often without prior notice. It's informal and suitable for casual conversation. |
Frequently asked questions: Arrive vs Turns up
What's the difference between Arrive and Turns up?
Arrive: To reach a place that you were going to. Turns up: To appear unexpectedly or arrive.
Can you show an example of each?
Arrive: We will arrive at the airport by noon. Turns up: She always turns up at the most unexpected times.
Can I use Arrive and Turns up interchangeably?
Not always. Arrive and Turns up are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.