ad lib
something improvised in speech, music, etc.: Was that joke part of your speech or an ad lib?
at one's pleasure; without restriction.
freely; as needed; without stint: Water can be given to the patients ad lib.
Origin of ad lib
1Words Nearby ad lib
Other definitions for ad-lib (2 of 3)
to improvise all or part of (a speech, a piece of music, etc.): to ad-lib one's lines.
to act, speak, etc., without preparation: Throughout the play he had to ad-lib constantly.
impromptu; extemporaneous: ad-lib remarks to hecklers.
Origin of ad-lib
2Other words from ad-lib
- ad-libber, noun
Other definitions for ad lib. (3 of 3)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use ad lib in a sentence
They told me to forget the script because I was going to have to ad-lib everything.
Charlie Brotman, Announcer of Presidential Inaugurals Since Truman’s | Sandra McElwaine | January 17, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTBut the prince also proved he could warm up the weather with a clever ad lib.
Prince Charles, BBC Weatherman & More Forecasts by Celebrities (Video) | The Daily Beast | May 11, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTNow Guttentag encourages us to forget about the script and ad lib the scene.
I had a brilliant ad lib as I came to: “I think I passed out.”
It consisted of a monologue delivered by the poisonous young woman to the macaw, occasionally varied by ad lib.
The Book of Susan | Lee Wilson Dodd
This goes on ad lib., and we were soothed to sleep by those wild yells.
The Land of the Black Mountain | Reginald WyonEven here, in an embarrassing situation calling for lines spoken ad lib.
Sundry Accounts | Irvin S. CobbWell, you look here, my bloke: I'll have fizz ad lib., or it won't wash.
The Ebb-Tide | Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyde Osbourne"I needed a job awful bad," I answered sullenly, knowing it sounded like an ad lib.
The Old Die Rich | Horace Leonard Gold
British Dictionary definitions for ad-lib
/ (ædˈlɪb) /
to improvise and deliver without preparation (a speech, musical performance, etc)
improvised; impromptu
an improvised performance, often humorous
Origin of ad-lib
1Derived forms of ad-lib
- ad-libber, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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