pop-up

or pop·up

[ pop-uhp ]

/ ˈpɒpˌʌp /

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See synonyms for pop-up on Thesaurus.com

adjective

(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.

noun

a pop-up book.

Also called pop-out, pop·out . 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.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pop-up

First recorded in 1860–65 for def. 9; noun, adjective use of verb phrase pop up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pop-up in a sentence

There are over 10,000 Russian fashion agencies training girls from age four, and new ones pop up every month.
Is 9-Year-Old Russian Model Kristina Pimenova Too Sexualized?|Anna Nemtsova|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
About the only thing nearby that smacks of politics is an adjacent pop-up Halloween costume store.
Mystery Man Buys Kentucky for the GOP|Center for Public Integrity|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Real-estate expert Julian Hitchcock told Grub Street he expects to see more chain restaurants pop up in New York.
High Rents Are Killing the Restaurant Capital|Will Doig|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Massachusetts-based entertainment group is known for throwing pop-up parties on college campuses.
Frat Culture Clashes With Riot Police at Keene, N.H., Pumpkin Festival|Melanie Plenda|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Kacinskis is looking to license the shirts and plans to sell them online after the pop-up closes.
Hipster Putin Propaganda|Lizzie Crocker, Emil Lendof|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then you pop up in a blizzard in the middle of the night an' cut me loose.
Connie Morgan in the Lumber Camps|James B. Hendryx
So our vegetables will be wonders if they pop up in ten days time.
Natalie: A Garden Scout|Lillian Elizabeth Roy
They pop up their heads when disturbed by people treading on their houses.
Ulster Folklore|Elizabeth Andrews
"Figure out some kind of armor that will stand off whatever kind of ray they pop up with, I guess," offered Sherman.
The Onslaught from Rigel|Fletcher Pratt
I have known radishes to pop up within three days, when the weather was warm and damp.
A Little Garden Calendar for Boys and Girls|Albert Bigelow Paine

British Dictionary definitions for pop-up

pop-up

adjective

(of an appliance) characterized by or having a mechanism that pops upa 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 timea pop-up shop

verb pop up

(intr, adverb) to appear suddenly from below

noun

computing something that appears over or above the open window on a computer screen

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with pop-up

pop up

Suddenly appear, as in After a brief warm spell all the flowers popped up, or He's constantly popping up where he's least expected.

pop-up

or pop·up

Origin of pop-up

Words related to pop-up

How to use pop-up in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pop-up

Other Idioms and Phrases with pop-up