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Language Foundation

ETA

ETA, short for estimated time of arrival, is the expected time when a person, vehicle, or shipment will arrive at a particular place.

In plain English

It gives a predicted clock time for when a person, vehicle, or shipment is expected to reach a place. Because it is an estimate, the actual arrival can be earlier or later.

In context

Here, ETA reports the expected time when the relevant vehicle will arrive at the place being tracked.

Situation
Using rail, bus, metro, ride, and local-transit tickets and service updates
What it communicates
labels the predicted arrival time on a live screen or app.

Meaning limits

By itself, the term does not establish that arrival will occur at exactly that time.

Examples

“The courier's ETA is 4:30, but he could still arrive a little earlier or later.”

Core meaning

“The van's ETA to the warehouse has slipped to 14:20.”

In context

  • arrival time Broader Term

    This names a predicted point within the broader idea of a time of arrival.