improvisation
Americannoun
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improvisations
plural
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the art or act of improvising, or of composing, uttering, executing, or arranging anything without previous preparation.
Musical improvisation involves imagination and creativity.
-
something improvised.
The actor's improvisation in Act II was both unexpected and amazing.
noun
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the act or an instance of improvising
-
a product of improvising; something improvised
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of improvisation
Explanation
Improvisation is making it up as you go along, like taking a long stroll with no destination in mind and walking down random streets for the fun of it. Making choices that aren’t planned ahead of time, that’s improvisation. Jazz musicians are masters of improvisation, creating saxophone solos off the top of their heads based on what they feel in the moment. The Latin word improvisus means “unforeseen,” and improvisation happens when you can’t see the end goal but you keep moving ahead, dealing with obstacles in a creative way.
Vocabulary lists containing improvisation
Starting Your New Life: Inspiring Words from Commencement Speeches
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Dwight D. Eisenhower, "The Military-Industrial Complex" (1961)
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Theater - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
After all, the two traditions share common qualities: a focus on improvisation; a practice of making complex and odd-metered rhythms sound easeful and organic; and the patience to let themes and forms unfold gradually.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
Messi's genius has always been rooted in improvisation.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
That’s still my favorite kind of recipe: one that knows exactly what it is while leaving plenty of room for improvisation.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
He well understood the city’s brightness, harshness, improvisation and fractured essence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
It needed great powers of reasoning and improvisation.
From "1984" by George Orwell
Listen closely through the web of startling improvisations on Mr. Sorey’s version of “Effi,” and you can hear Mr. Allen playing traces of Merritt’s alluring bass grooves from the original.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026
He was also a master of structure, even during his more extended improvisations.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026
When DiCaprio cut loose with long improvisations, like when his character, a burnout revolutionary, argues on the phone with headquarters, the crew played it safe by capturing his takes with a conventional film camera.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 12, 2025
Slattery was known and loved for his quick-witted improvisations on the popular Channel 4 show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, from 1988 onwards.
From BBC ● Jan. 14, 2025
The Passacaglia structure involves a short sequence of four or eight chords repeated many times, which act as the springboard for a series of unfolding melodic explorations or improvisations.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
