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

A little more than two months after two giant pandas — the first sent to the U.S. in 21 years — debuted at the San Diego Zoo, fans can now do a virtual pop-in.

From Los Angeles Times

“I live in Manhattan, and people don’t do a pop-in here. It’s not a thing.”

From Washington Post

The rest of the extras on the Blu-ray are led by a 24-minute retrospective on the film and pop-in, scene-specific commentaries with an all-grown-up Mr. Haim, Mr. Feldman and Jamison Newlander.

From Washington Times

But the Vedder pop-in actually came during an opening set from NYC post-punk revivalists The Strokes.

From Seattle Times

On Tuesday, ahead of the Zoom pop-in and virtual appearance at the fundraiser, Fetterman took calls in the morning and had a brainstorming meeting with his communications team.

From Washington Post

Related Words

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