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 told me to forget the script because I was going to have to ad-lib everything.

From The Daily Beast

But the prince also proved he could warm up the weather with a clever ad lib.

From The Daily Beast

Now Guttentag encourages us to forget about the script and ad lib the scene.

From The Daily Beast

I had a brilliant ad lib as I came to: “I think I passed out.”

From The Daily Beast

It consisted of a monologue delivered by the poisonous young woman to the macaw, occasionally varied by ad lib.

From Project Gutenberg

This goes on ad lib., and we were soothed to sleep by those wild yells.

From Project Gutenberg

Even here, in an embarrassing situation calling for lines spoken ad lib.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, you look here, my bloke: I'll have fizz ad lib., or it won't wash.

From Project Gutenberg

"I needed a job awful bad," I answered sullenly, knowing it sounded like an ad lib.

From Project Gutenberg