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Formation: N + に至って; V-dictionary + に至って; usually followed by ようやく／やっと／初めて; fixed: 事ここに至って

〜に至って says that only once a situation reached an extreme, often serious point did someone finally act or realize something. The main clause typically contains ようやく, やっと or 初めて, and there is often a critical nuance that the response came too late. The fixed phrase 事ここに至って means 'now that things have come to this' and leads to a judgment such as giving up or a decision that can't be avoided. The register is formal and written. Compare 〜に及んで, which is very close and also often implies 'at this late stage'. 〜てはじめて is broader and neutral, used for any realization that follows an experience, not specifically a crisis point. Do not confuse it with 〜に至っては, which means 'as for the extreme case of'.

Variants: に至ってようやく、に至って初めて、に至り、事ここに至って

Examples

• 死者が出るに至って、ようやく市は対策に乗り出した。
  Only when people had died did the city finally take action.
• 経営破綻に至って初めて、社長は自らの失敗を認めた。
  Only once the company went bankrupt did the president admit his mistakes.
• 事ここに至って、もはや隠し通すことはできない。
  Now that things have come this far, we can no longer keep it hidden.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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