improvise

[ im-pruh-vahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, im·pro·vised, im·pro·vis·ing.

1. to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation; extemporize:

   to improvise an acceptance speech.

2. to compose, play, recite, or sing (verse, music, etc.) on the spur of the moment.
3. to make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials are readily available:

   We improvised a dinner from yesterday's leftovers.

verb (used without object)

, im·pro·vised, im·pro·vis·ing.

1. to compose, utter, execute, or arrange anything extemporaneously:

   When the actor forgot his lines he had to improvise.

improvise

/ ˈɪmprəˌvaɪz /

verb

1. to perform or make quickly from materials and sources available, without previous planning
2. to perform (a poem, play, piece of music, etc), composing as one goes along

Derived Forms

• ˈimproˌviser, noun

Other Words From

• impro·viser impro·visor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of improvise¹

First recorded in 1820–30; from French improviser, or its source, Italian improvisare (later improvvisare ), verbal derivative of improviso “improvised,” from Latin imprōvīsus, equivalent to im- “un-” + prōvīsus, past participle of prōvidēre “to see beforehand, prepare, provide for (a future circumstance)”; im- ², proviso

Word History and Origins

Origin of improvise¹

C19: from French, from Italian improvvisare, from Latin imprōvīsus unforeseen, from im- (not) + prōvīsus, from prōvidēre to foresee; see provide

Example Sentences

We’d improvise for two hours and put around 40 minutes of it on YouTube.

From Los Angeles Times

Having recognized perhaps that this wasn’t exactly a jazz crowd, André helpfully explained that he and the band were improvising in real time: “Everything we play every night, we make it up,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

We could write messages or slogans on sheets of paper, which were read aloud and improvised and danced to.

From Los Angeles Times

This is how he gaslights routinely in politics, rarely engaging directly with the right-wing mythologies he taps into, but freely improvising his own fantasy extensions.

From Salon

One Artemisa resident said people were having to "improvise" to deal with the power cuts.

From BBC

Related Words

• ad-lib
• brainstorm
• concoct
• contrive
• devise
• dream up
• invent
• throw together