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

Tracks called things like Trippin’ Out and Flower Society were constructed from a remarkably out-there patchwork of extempore keyboards, electronics from Moog synth pioneer Bernie Krause and Blaine cutting loose in a free improvised style that occasionally revealed his jazz roots – he had played with Count Basie – and certainly wouldn’t have been allowed at a Phil Spector session.

From The Guardian

In the evenings there might be a gathering in the hearth-room of one or another of the low, tree-surrounded houses; there was conversation, and beer, and there might be music, the vigorous music of Karhide, melodically simple but rhythmically complex, always played extempore.

From Literature