(of books, usually children's books) having pieces of artwork fastened to the pages so that when the page is opened, a three-dimensional cutout or object is formed and, sometimes, movement of a picture element, such as a door opening, can be activated by pulling a tab.
of or being a device that ejects or raises a finished or used item from the top.
a pop-up toaster.
of or relating to a device, mechanism, or object that rises or pivots from a concealed or recessed position to its operating position.
a camera with a pop-up electronic flash; a car with pop-up headlights.
popping up, as from an appliance or object.
pop-up waffles heated in the toaster; a pop-up gauge for indicating when the turkey is done.
noting or pertaining to a store, restaurant, etc., that temporarily takes over a vacant space and does business there for a short time.
a pop-up store selling Halloween costumes.
Digital Technology. (of a new window or its content) appearing suddenly and temporarily within or in front of an open window on the screen of a computer or mobile device.
Right-click to get a pop-up menu. There are tools to block pop-up ads.
a pop-up book.
Also called pop-out. Also called popout. something, as a partially cut out or spring-mounted illustration in a children's book, that unfolds or springs up when opened or otherwise activated.
a Christmas card with a pop-up of Santa Claus.
Baseball. pop fly.
a pop-up store, restaurant, etc.
Digital Technology. a pop-up window, message, advertisement, etc..
Press the hotkey and the pop-up will appear.
(of an appliance) characterized by or having a mechanism that pops up
a pop-up toaster
(of a book) having pages that rise when opened to simulate a three-dimensional form
computing (of a menu on a computer screen, etc) suddenly appearing when an option is selected
(of a shop, restaurant, venue, or other small business) intentionally opening and closing for business within a very short span of time
a pop-up shop
First recorded in 1860–65 pop-up for def. 9; noun, adjective use of verb phrase pop up
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"We were given the amazing opportunity to go and work out at Nihonbashi in Japan where we had a pop-up of The Rabbit Hole in September," said Lee Greenhalgh, the cafe's owner.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Ramirez loved the pizza and offered to build a truck to make the pop-up concept mobile.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Their pages don’t flicker with pop-up ads or interrupt one book to tell you about others you might want to read.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026
Parents are being encouraged to donate unwanted school uniforms and prom outfits and swap them for something else, or take what they need for free, at a new pop-up event.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
I pretend I’m trying to catch a pop-up and shield my eyes from the sun with my hand.
From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner
My worry is that one of his kids from his other marriage or one of his siblings will pop up and say they deserve his money.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Then, on a hot D.C. morning, usually in June, extremely consequential opinions pop up on the court’s website that give and take the rights of millions of Americans.
From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026
Tomato and soy are one of those quietly brilliant flavor pairings that seem to pop up everywhere once you start looking for them.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
Every spring an influx of new operators tends to pop up, often charging low rates to try to undercut their peers, said Avery Bustin, a 24-year-old with a detailing business in Montrose, Colo.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Colorful little text bubbles pop up over each of the buildings.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
Around Manhattan, Adidas branding has been hard to miss, from dedicated World Cup pop-ups to smaller promotional stands and adverts across the city.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
In the loop outside the theater are food trucks, buffets, and more than half a dozen Vancouver-area coffee, tea, and matcha pop-ups serving unlimited boutique offerings.
From Slate ● May 8, 2026
That helps explain why Chinese malls and shopping districts increasingly lean on pop-ups, exhibitions, and themed retail to turn online enthusiasm into offline foot traffic.
From Barron's ● Apr. 11, 2026
Brands have also increased their focus on local clients through Ramadan collections, pop-ups and events.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026
He hit a few easy grounders and pop-ups, and the fielders shouted encouragement to one another in Yiddish.
From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
