improvised

[im-pruh-vahyzd]

adjective

1. made or said without previous preparation.

   an improvised skit.

   Synonyms: unprepared, unrehearsed, unpremeditated

Other Word Forms

• improvisedly adverb
• unimprovised adjective
• well-improvised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of improvised¹

First recorded in 1830–40; improvise + -ed ²

Synonym Study

See extemporaneous.

Example Sentences

Men carry buckets of water for the communal kitchens and improvised latrines while women stir massive pots over open flames.

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For a later scene when Man-soo is strolling, businesslike, toward his first attempted murder, Lee improvised a spastic callback to the earlier snake moment.

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A small minority of protesters, many wearing ski masks, tossed stones, bottles, fireworks and other improvised weapons at police.

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That iteration started gently but grew exuberant, as Mr. Lloyd improvised phrases within and around an emphatic cross-cultural rhythmic conversation.

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“Been stuck under my truck for the past two hours,” he improvised.

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Related Words

• impromptu 
• makeshift 
• spontaneous