improvisation
[im-prov-uh-zey-shuh n, im-pruh-vuh-]
- 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.
Show More
Origin of improvisation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for improvisational
Contemporary Examples
Even the chefs—the younger, more intriguing ones, at least—seemed to be unschooled, unofficial, improvisational.
But at the same time, I miss some of the improvisational energy.
There is a certain hypnotic rhythm, almost an improvisational quality, to his sentences.
Must Reads: Kennedy, Sontag and Paris, ‘A Partial History of Lost Causes,’ ‘City of Bohane,’ ‘Flatscreen’Lauren Elkin, Mythili Rao, Drew Toal, Nicholas Mancusi
April 6, 2012
A lot of the scenes seem to have an improvisational quality.
Tom Skerritt: The extras were basically this improvisational group that he found in San Francisco.
improvisation
- the act or an instance of improvising
- a product of improvising; something improvised
Show More
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
Word Origin and History for improvisational
adj.
1879; see improvisation + -al (1).
Show More
improvisation
n.
mid-15c., "unforeseen happening;" 1786 as "act of improvising musically," from French improvisation, from improviser "compose or say extemporaneously," from Italian improvvisare, from improvviso "unforeseen, unprepared," from Latin improvisus "not foreseen, unforeseen, unexpected," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + provisus "foreseen," also "provided," past participle of providere "foresee, provide" (see provide).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper