pop-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈpäp-ˌəp 

1

: pop fly

2

: a component or device that pops up

3

: a pop-up book

4

: a pop-up window on a computer screen

pop-up

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or having a component or device that pops up

a pop-up book

2

: appearing suddenly: such as

a

computing : appearing suddenly on a screen over another window or display

a pop-up window

a pop-up ad

b

of a business : set up quickly for short-term operation in a temporary location

pop-up stores/shops

pop-up retail

The front lawn of nearly every home becomes either a parking lot or a pop-up market, perfect for hungry, thirsty fans held captive by the … lines of traffic.

—Juliet Macur

c

meteorology : appearing or developing quickly in isolation rather than as part of a line or grouping of storms

By Thursday you should be able to go coast to coast and see only pop-up thunderstorms …

—Paul Clark

Late summer is prime time for "pop-up" thunderstorms: storms born of hot, moist air that occur without regard to frontal activity or other large weather disturbances that are more easily understood.

—The Journal & Courier (Lafayette, Indiana)

Examples of pop-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The colorful pop-ups, loosely inspired by Tokyo’s famous pod hotels, will open in early January in New York City, London, Milan, Tokyo, Seoul and Singapore, and will stay open for three weeks. —Joelle Diderich For Wwd, ARTnews.com, 27 Dec. 2024

Its new Bivy weighs as little as 205 lb while offering a pop-up interior that can be made into a cozy camper. —New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2024

Adjective

This canopy has an easy pop-up design that uses a center pole for stability and height. —Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 28 Mar. 2023

In addition, the hotels will encourage social encounters, interactions and experiences through a range of ‘pop-up corners’ dedicated to handicrafts, beauty or product tastings with partner brands. —Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pop-up

1 of 2 noun

ˈpäp-ˌəp

1

: pop fly

2

: a pop-up window on a computer screen

pop-up

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, relating to, or having a part or device that pops up

a pop-up book

2

: appearing suddenly on a computer screen

a pop-up window