spur-of-the-moment

American  

[spur-uhv-thuh-moh-muhnt] / ˈspɜr əv ðəˈmoʊ mənt /

adjective

1. occurring or done without advance preparation or deliberation; extemporaneous; unplanned.

   a spur-of-the-moment decision.

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Etymology

Origin of spur-of-the-moment

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

But, while she may no longer feel able to wear the T-shirt which inspired her "corny" spur-of-the-moment quote, it has since become clear that the impact was worth the sacrifice.

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

Everything in that seemingly spur-of-the-moment scene would have had to have been carefully arranged, which is why it comes off as clumsily showy rather than truly delightful.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

Liu, who lives in Manhattan, elaborated on why her library card, spur-of-the-moment theatergoing and riding her bicycle are essential to her well-being.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2024

Some are irked by the standardization of competitive breaking: Dancers strive to defy gravity and capture the music’s spirit in spur-of-the-moment sculptures carved from their muscles, bones and imagination.

From Salon • Aug. 13, 2024

If you can create the right framework, all of a sudden, engaging in the kind of fluid, effortless, spur-of-the-moment dialogue that makes for good improv theater becomes a lot easier.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell