seat-of-the-pants
adjective
: employing or based on personal experience, judgment, and effort rather than technological aids or formal theory
seat-of-the-pants navigation
a seat-of-the-pants decision
Examples of seat-of-the-pants in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And now, in its new 4K glory, this scrappy seat-of-the-pants gem is alive with gorgeous ghosts, among them a number of performers who would never again appear onscreen.
—
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2024
As Andy Greene’s oral history makes clear, the classic result belies the seat-of-the-pants execution.
—Longreads, 4 Aug. 2023
Ready or not, that’s what Lagos and the Band on the Run sessions were about to give him, his wife and Laine — one dramatic complication after another, threatening to undermine an endeavor that was more shambolic and seat-of-the-pants than the average McCartney fan realized back in the ‘70s.
—Andy Meek, Billboard, 2 May 2023
In the predigital age, that often meant seat-of-the-pants improvising.
—Neil Genzlinger, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2023
Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2024
As Andy Greene’s oral history makes clear, the classic result belies the seat-of-the-pants execution.
—Longreads, 4 Aug. 2023
Ready or not, that’s what Lagos and the Band on the Run sessions were about to give him, his wife and Laine — one dramatic complication after another, threatening to undermine an endeavor that was more shambolic and seat-of-the-pants than the average McCartney fan realized back in the ‘70s.
—Andy Meek, Billboard, 2 May 2023
In the predigital age, that often meant seat-of-the-pants improvising.
—Neil Genzlinger, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'seat-of-the-pants.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1942, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of seat-of-the-pants was
in 1942
Dictionary Entries Near seat-of-the-pants
Cite this Entry
“Seat-of-the-pants.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seat-of-the-pants. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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