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

But I will say the hardest to play for me—well, one of the easiest to improvise, but also the hardest character is Liz.

From The Daily Beast

We had to improvise a little bit to make this position work, but it paid off in the end.

From The Daily Beast

A shortage of pentobarbital has forced some states to improvise, often with gruesome consequences.

From The Daily Beast

I heard writer Justin Lader wrote 50 pages of suggested script for The One I Love and let the actors improvise the rest.

From The Daily Beast

The Click & Style is easy to talk about because I use it so much, so it was easy to improvise on set.

From The Daily Beast

Hospital trains they could improvise out of what rolling stock remained to them.

From Project Gutenberg

Chopin at once went to the piano, and invited those present to give him a theme to improvise upon.

From Project Gutenberg

On catching him I found that he had somehow severed an artery in his tail, and I had to improvise a tourniquet to stop the flow.

From Project Gutenberg

Having shipped the last article, I returned into the brake, seeking something from which to improvise a paddle.

From Project Gutenberg

Britain, on the other hand, has had to improvise her war organisation since war has been actually forced on her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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