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Glite Dictionary
to pop in

to pop in

25 3.4
To make a short informal visit to a place
  • phrasal verb
  • /pɑp ɪn/
  • Informal
translation icon : pasar por
  • Promise you're going to pop in on your way back?
  • just pop in
  • pop in and say hi
  • pop in to see

But I'm going to be popping in here and there and providing my commentary.

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Examples

  • Hey guys, just popping in here at the end of the vlog from the present day.

    Allana Davison

  • You never know when I might pop in to see you guys.

    Lights Out (2024)

  • Yeah, it's good, I think, just to pop in to parties like that.

    Now Is Good (2012)

  • Sometimes someone would pop in to see if anything was needed.

    Blog text (2)

  • I will be the administrator, and pop in sometimes, but you are to keep each other accountable.

    Blog text (18)

  • So I thought, oh, I'll pop in and, you know, see if I can say hi to Richard Branson.

    Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum

  • Then why don't we pop in there for a spell?

    Shrek 2 (2004)

  • Just thought we'd pop in and say hello - say hi to Chances and Heritage from us!

    Blog text (21)

  • I just popped in to see Clifford Blades.

    Filth (2013)

  • I decided to pop in at my neighbor's house for a quick chat.

Synonyms

to visit
vsto pop in
∞ 1.0

To go to see a person or place, usually for a short time

is more specific, stressing a very quick and informal short stop
to stop by
vsto pop in
  • Informal
494 2.5

To make a short visit to a person or place

is similar but stresses rapid, very brief entry and exit
to walk in
vsto pop in
396 1.6

To enter a room or building by walking without knocking

focuses on quick informal entry but does not require physical walking
to drop by
vsto pop in
  • Informal
206 2.5

To visit someone or a place for a short time without planning

is like this but often even quicker and more fleeting
to drop in
vsto pop in
  • Informal
72 3.6

Visit someone without arranging it first

is very similar but focuses more on a quick short stop
to swing by
vsto pop in
72 3.7

Visit a place for a short time while on the way somewhere

differs by not necessarily occurring while en route to another place
to pay a visit
vsto pop in
50 2.3

To go to someone's home or another place for a short time

is narrower, highlighting a very quick informal entry rather than any short stay
to pop into
vsto pop in
  • Informal
9 4.1

Visit a place for a short time, often without planning

is identical in sense but differs only in the prepositional variant used
to call in
vsto pop in
  • UK
1 2.8

Pay a short, often unplanned visit to someone

is comparable but often feels more immediate and quicker

Antonyms

to stay
∞ 1.0

To remain in one place and not leave

to linger
207 3.7

To stay in a place longer than expected because you do not want to leave

to pop out
  • Informal
16 3.2

To leave a place for a short time to do something

How Long

to stay
∞ 1.0
to visit
∞ 1.0
to drop by
  • Informal
206 2.5
to pop in
  • Informal
25 3.4

Surface Forms

pop in infinitive
popped in past
popped in past participle
popping in present participle
pops in third person singular

Morphology

pop + in

The meaning 'to visit or enter briefly' is directly built from 'pop' (to move or appear quickly) + 'in' (into the interior), so the sense of a quick, informal entry is compositional. This verb+particle pattern is common in English and parallels constructions in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Pop in comes from the image of a quick, small movement: pop suggests a sudden little entry and in shows going inside. Imagine someone making a quick, popping step into a room — that's why it means 'to visit briefly'.