Spring up Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Sudden Appearance Use it when something new quickly becomes noticeable or demands attention. As the discussion continued, fresh arguments sprang up. Pro Tip 2/3Unexpected Issues Ideal for describing problems that appear without warning. During the road trip, several issues sprang up with the car. Pro Tip 3/3Non-Physical Context Often used for abstract concepts, like ideas or issues, instead of physical objects. Heated debates sprang up on social media overnight.