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 office plans to host a total of four food pop-ups through this fall and winter at locations in North Nashville. —Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025

The concept eventually became a pop-up in Wynwood and later opened at at Killian Greens Golf Club in Kendall at the end of 2022, drawing huge crowds willing to wait in long lines for brisket, ribs, pulled pork and more. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025

Adjective

The pop-up features an exclusive capsule collection called The Dressing Room that’s made up of the items that Beckham wears in the Netflix documentary, from cashmere knits, crisp shirting and denim to cocktail dresses and eveningwear. —Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2025

Mexican pop stars join Apple Music Belinda, Danna and Kenia Os team up for a new pop-up radio special on Apple Música Uno. —Griselda Flores, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pop-up

• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup
• markup

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