improvisation
noun
im·pro·vi·sa·tion
(ˌ)im-ˌprä-və-ˈzā-shən 
ˌim-prə-və-,
also ˌim-prə-(ˌ)vī-
1
: the act or art of improvising
2
: something (such as a musical or dramatic composition) improvised
improvisationally
adverb
Examples of improvisation in a Sentence
that comedy skit was a totally unrehearsed improvisation
Recent Examples on the Web
Whether by design or improvisation, the Javier Milei administration is laying out its own governing methodology which, as expected, is unlike any of what his predecessors attempted.
—
Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Heart Matter’s original songs combine chamber music with Brazilian rhythm and jazz improvisation.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
Some cooks don’t like baking because there doesn’t seem to be room for improvisation without risking a failure in the oven.
—Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
This fact, along with Putin’s disinterest in the nitty-gritty of governance, means there is ever more room for improvisation and freelancing at all levels of the state apparatus.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2024
Hunyadi achieved that through a mix of military innovation – including the use of artillery and firearms – the foresight of fortifying Belgrade’s fortress at his own cost, inspired tactics and improvisation.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024
Experience some of The Second City’s newest classics, along with their trademark improvisation, performed by the next generation of comedy superstars.
—The Enquirer, 4 Mar. 2024
Steve Paxton, who helped radically upend ideas about dance as a member of the 1960s collective Judson Dance Theater in New York City, and who developed contact improvisation, a movement form that is now practiced around the world, died on Tuesday at his home in East Charleston, Vt.
—Brian Seibert, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
The Robot Dog Dance Other pairs presenting at 7x7 included Brown University quantum physicist Stephon Alexander and comedian and musician Reggie Watts, who together experimented with improvisation to understand how physics, creativity and AI intersect.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
Heart Matter’s original songs combine chamber music with Brazilian rhythm and jazz improvisation.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2024
Some cooks don’t like baking because there doesn’t seem to be room for improvisation without risking a failure in the oven.
—Genevieve Ko, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024
This fact, along with Putin’s disinterest in the nitty-gritty of governance, means there is ever more room for improvisation and freelancing at all levels of the state apparatus.
—Joshua Yaffa, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2024
Hunyadi achieved that through a mix of military innovation – including the use of artillery and firearms – the foresight of fortifying Belgrade’s fortress at his own cost, inspired tactics and improvisation.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Feb. 2024
Experience some of The Second City’s newest classics, along with their trademark improvisation, performed by the next generation of comedy superstars.
—The Enquirer, 4 Mar. 2024
Steve Paxton, who helped radically upend ideas about dance as a member of the 1960s collective Judson Dance Theater in New York City, and who developed contact improvisation, a movement form that is now practiced around the world, died on Tuesday at his home in East Charleston, Vt.
—Brian Seibert, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2024
The Robot Dog Dance Other pairs presenting at 7x7 included Brown University quantum physicist Stephon Alexander and comedian and musician Reggie Watts, who together experimented with improvisation to understand how physics, creativity and AI intersect.
—Leslie Katz, Forbes, 10 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'improvisation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near improvisation
Cite this Entry
“Improvisation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/improvisation. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
improvisation
noun
im·pro·vi·sa·tion
(ˌ)im-ˌpräv-ə-ˈzā-shən
ˌim-prə-və-
1
: the act or art of improvising
2
: something that is improvised
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