pop-in

[ pop-in ]

adjective

1. requiring only a quick insertion into a receptacle to be ready for use:

   Our new stroller has a pop-in frame for a baby carrier, so the baby can be transferred in or out without waking.

   I bought a guitar with a pop-in whammy bar, which I prefer over the old screw-in types.

2. designating a quick, often impromptu visit, or an event or venue that welcomes or includes such visits: It was a rainy Saturday, so I took the kids to a pop-in play center.

   The mayor’s holiday open house featured pop-in appearances from a number of local celebrities.

   It was a rainy Saturday, so I took the kids to a pop-in play center.

3. (of a retail business) located within a larger store from which it rents space:

   Opening a pop-in shop can help you try out brick-and-mortar retail with minimal capital investment.

noun

1. a pop-in item, visit, event, or venue:

   The café is a fun, casual spot, great for a pop-in after work with friends.

2. Digital Technology. (in video games) the tendency of objects, textures, lighting, or game geometry to pop into existence or into higher resolution after a delay in rendering, instead of loading with the rest of the environment or scene (often used attributively):

   Despite some pop-in issues, the views in this game are often quite lovely.

verb phrase

1. to visit briefly and unexpectedly; stop in; drop by:

   Maybe we'll pop in after the movie.

2. to insert or be inserted into a receptacle with a quick, easy motion:

   Doing bacon in the oven is so easy—just pop it in and wait!

   The battery pops in like so, and then you snap the cover on.

3. Digital Technology. (of objects, textures, etc., in video games) to come suddenly into existence or into higher resolution after a delay in rendering, instead of loading with the rest of the environment or scene:

   Sometimes you'll even be fully on a rock and climbing it by the time the high-res texture pops in.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pop-in¹

First recorded in 1835–45; adjective use of verb phrase pop in

Example Sentences

She has made it through the tricky 60-second showcase by flipping and body popping in a street dance routine.

From BBC

But then the phrase "This will fix me" popped in my head and I landed on a take that I hadn't ever previously in all my other times watching this.

From Salon

“And there’s no logical explanation. And I think, ‘Maybe that’s my mom popping in.’”

From Los Angeles Times

Shortly after, manager McKenna told Match of the Day that he had "popped in".

From BBC

And when Buehler popped in, he called over to the club’s top executive.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrive
• come
• come out
• crop up
• develop
• emerge
• materialize
• occur
• pop up
• present
• show
• show up
• surface
• turn out
• turn up