crop up

verb

cropped up; cropping up; crops up
Synonyms of crop upnext

intransitive verb

: to come or appear when not expected
New problems crop up every day.
His name crops up frequently as a potential candidate.

Examples of crop up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your sense of self may feel unclear as emotional needs crop up. Usa Today, USA Today, 25 June 2026 These legal issues crop up all the time, and the stock takes a temporary pause. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 2 July 2026 Cases have cropped up in states ranging from Texas to Alaska. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026 Interracial summer camps, while not widespread, did start to crop up in the mid-20th century. Derek H. Alderman, The Conversation, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crop up

Word History

Etymology

Note: See note at crop entry 2

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crop up was in 1844

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crop up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crop%20up. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on crop up

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!