ad lib

¹

[ ad lib, ad ]

noun

1. something improvised in speech, music, etc.:

   Was that joke part of your speech or an ad lib?

adverb

1. at one's pleasure; without restriction.
2. freely; as needed; without stint:

   Water can be given to the patients ad lib.

ad lib.

²

abbreviation for

1. ad libitum.

ad-lib

³

[ ad-lib, ad- ]

verb (used with object)

, ad-libbed, ad-lib·bing.

1. to improvise all or part of (a speech, a piece of music, etc.):

   to ad-lib one's lines.

verb (used without object)

, ad-libbed, ad-lib·bing.

1. to act, speak, etc., without preparation:

   Throughout the play he had to ad-lib constantly.

adjective

1. impromptu; extemporaneous:

   ad-lib remarks to hecklers.

ad-lib

/ ædˈlɪb /

verb

1. to improvise and deliver without preparation (a speech, musical performance, etc)

adjective

1. improvised; impromptu

adverb

1. without restraint; freely
2. music short for ad libitum

noun

1. an improvised performance, often humorous

Derived Forms

• ad-ˈlibber, noun

Other Words From

• ad-libber noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ad lib¹

First recorded in 1810–20; ad libitum

Origin of ad lib²

1915–20, Americanism; v. use of ad lib

Word History and Origins

Origin of ad lib¹

C18: short for Latin ad libitum, literally: according to pleasure

Example Sentences

They sang every word, every ad lib, of every song - some with mascara running, others with hands clasped to their chests.

From BBC

He piled tangent upon tangent, and heaped ad lib atop ad lib — about Hannibal Lecter and Venezuela as a convention site and the size of crowds singer Kid Rock draws to his concerts, among other weird digressions — which pushed his remarks way past the attention spans of even some of his most loyal devotees.

From Los Angeles Times

He is a master of the theatrics of politics, with a ready knack for oratory and a capacity to ad lib in fluent argument – and spot and capitalise on gaps in the political debate left by the Tories and Labour.

From BBC

In 1963, she joined the March on Washington and was close enough to Martin Luther King, Jr. as he spoke that she saw gospel singer Mahalia Jackson urge him, “Tell him about the dream, Martin,” leading him to ad lib his most famous speech.

From Seattle Times

If you listen to his 3-minute spiel for the Bible where Trump seems to deviate from the teleprompter and ad lib you can see indications he actually believes some of what he is saying.

From Salon