improv
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of improv
By shortening
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He ripped through courses in improv, stand-up and screenwriting.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Inside the ornate Bovard Auditorium, Larry David kept a full audience in stitches as he discussed the creation and legacy of his improv hit, “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” which concluded in 2024 after 12 seasons.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
He told Vanity Fair it was the hardest role he had played because he didn't have the "ability to improv and be spontaneous".
From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026
Although he’s made his mark online, Anderson studied theater in college and did sketch improv in Chicago before moving to New York.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026
Because improv is an art form governed by a series of rules, and they want to make sure that when they’re up onstage, everyone abides by those rules.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
