Pop-up

//ˈpɒpʌp// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A pop-up advertisement; an advertisement that is triggered to appear on a computer screen when the user accesses a particular web page. Internet
  2. 2
    a short high fly ball wordnet
  3. 3
    A pop-up ball: a ball that has been hit to a considerable height above the infield or the shallow outfield; a pop fly.
  4. 4
    a store that is open for a limited period of time on temporary premises wordnet
  5. 5
    A folded paper element which pops up from a book, greeting card, etc.
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    a book (usually for children) that contains one or more pages such that a three-dimensional structure rises up when a page is opened wordnet
  2. 7
    A business that opens for a brief temporary period only, such as a temporary restaurant.

    "Pop-ups often charge restaurant prices, but without advance menus, quality control, health-inspected facilities or professional service. Bring cash and arrive early: most pop-ups don't accept credit cards, and popular dishes run out fast."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Coming into view suddenly from a concealed position. not-comparable

    "I packed a pop-up hamper in my suitcase."

  2. 2
    Opening out to form a three-dimensional structure when the page of a book is opened. not-comparable

    "[…] I had a pop-up book of sexual organs by the time I was four –[…]"

  3. 3
    Operating or existing for a brief period only; temporary. not-comparable

    "But then this is essentially a pop-up team, glued into place brilliantly, with certain parts already chafing and smoking. Chelsea’s two top goalscorers could be off in a month, Diego Costa to cause an international incident in China, [Eden] Hazard to the usual summer suspects."

  4. 4
    Employing the cold launch technique. not-comparable

Synonyms

All synonyms
bannercalloutflyoutflyovermodaloverlay

Example

More examples

"Since there are usually multiple websites on any given topic, I usually just click the back button when I arrive on any webpage that has pop-up advertising. I just go to the next page found by Google and hope for something less irritating."

Etymology

Deverbal from pop up.

Related phrases

pop-up bookpop-up shoppop-up store

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.