extempore

[ ik-stem-puh-ree ]

adverb

1. on the spur of the moment; without premeditation or preparation; offhand:

   Questions were asked extempore from the floor.

2. without notes:

   to speak extempore.

3. (of musical performance) by improvisation.

adjective

1. extemporaneous; impromptu.

extempore

/ ɪkˈstɛmpərɪ /

adverb

1. without planning or preparation; impromptu

Other Words From

• nonex·tempo·re adverb adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of extempore¹

First recorded in 1545–55; from Latin: literally, “out of the time, at the moment,” equivalent to ex “out of” ( ex- ¹ ) + tempore “the time” (ablative singular of tempus )

Word History and Origins

Origin of extempore¹

C16: from Latin ex tempore instantaneously, from ex- ¹out of + tempus time

Synonym Study

See extemporaneous.

Example Sentences

And whenever he performed during the show - including an extempore rap performance while inhaling helium from a balloon - fans would celebrate on social media for days.

From BBC

It was his ability to speak extempore with an eloquence and inventiveness unrivaled in 17th-century Paris.

From New York Times

On stage, James could stretch I’d Rather Go Blind out to 10 minutes of extempore soul-bearing, but the simple, concise studio original is pretty much perfect.

From The Guardian

In 1974, when Mr. Braufman was deeply embedded on New York’s radical free-jazz scene, he recorded “Valley of Search,” a record of darkly melodic improvising and portentous incantations and extempore group explosions.

From New York Times

When the roles are reversed in their extempore play, Hal excoriates Falstaff as that “villainous abominable misleader of youth.”

From Los Angeles Times