drop-in

American

[drop-in] / ˈdrɒpˌɪn /

noun

Informal. Also a person who or thing that pays an unexpected or uninvited visit.

a feeder for squirrels, raccoons, and other drop-ins.
Informal. a social gathering at which the guests are not expected to stay long.

Be sure to stop by our house for a glass of eggnog at our Christmas drop-in.

adjective

provided for short-term patronage.

a drop-in shelter for people who are moving through homelessness.
requiring only insertion to be ready for use.

a drop-in battery pack.

drop in British

verb

surfing to intrude on a wave that another surfer is already riding

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of drop-in

First recorded in 1810–20; noun and adjective use of verb phrase drop in

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The result is a drop-in replacement for metallurgical coal.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 17, 2025

A victim support drop-in clinic will be held on 5 December.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 2025

Right now, Stringer is ramping up on wholesale deals and looking to test out a drop-in style model at Backhouse.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2025

People listed a variety of tactics, including avoiding sleeping in exposed places, walking around at night instead of sleeping, and spending more time at drop-in centers.

From Slate • Sep. 1, 2025

“My husband, the doctor, usually does not take drop-in patients,” she said.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023