<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001019695</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARQULE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARQL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001609805</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nussbaum Ran</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ARQULE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE WALL STREET, 6TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BURLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>48485</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1810485</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Pontifax Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>89676</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3348676</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Pontifax Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>43657</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1630657</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Pontifax Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8611</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Pontifax Fund</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pontifax III Management of Fund (2011) Ltd. is the management company of Pontifax III. Mr. Nussbaum is one of the directors and shareholders of Pontifax III Management of Fund (2011) Ltd. and by virtue of this relationship, Mr. Nussbaum may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by such entity. In that context, Mr. Nussbaum disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of the shares in this report shall not be deemed to be an admission of beneficial ownership of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares of the Issuer held by Pontifax (China) IV, L.P. (&quot;China IV&quot;). Pontifax 4 GP L.P. (&quot;Pontifax GP&quot;) is the general partner of China IV. Pontifax Management 4 GP (2015) Ltd. (&quot;Management IV&quot;) is the general partner of Pontifax GP. Mr. Nussbaum is a Managing Partner of Management IV. By virtue of this relationship, Mr. Nussbaum may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by China IV. Mr. Nussbaum disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of the shares in this report shall not be deemed to be an admission of beneficial ownership of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares of the Issuer held by Pontifax (Israel) IV, L.P. (&quot;Israel IV&quot;). Pontifax 4 GP L.P. (&quot;Pontifax GP&quot;) is the general partner of Israel IV. Pontifax Management 4 GP (2015) Ltd. (&quot;Management IV&quot;) is the general partner of Pontifax GP. Mr. Nussbaum is a Managing Partner of Management IV. By virtue of this relationship, Mr. Nussbaum may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Israel IV. Mr. Nussbaum disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of the shares in this report shall not be deemed to be an admission of beneficial ownership of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares of the Issuer held by Pontifax (Cayman) IV, L.P. (&quot;Cayman IV&quot;). Pontifax 4 GP L.P. (&quot;Pontifax GP&quot;) is the general partner of Cayman IV. Pontifax Management 4 GP (2015) Ltd. (&quot;Management IV&quot;) is the general partner of Pontifax GP. Mr. Nussbaum is a Managing Partner of Management IV. By virtue of this relationship, Mr. Nussbaum may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by Cayman IV. Mr. Nussbaum disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of the shares in this report shall not be deemed to be an admission of beneficial ownership of the reported shares for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter S. Lawrence By Power of Attorney for Ran Nussbaum</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-10-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
