spur-of-the-moment

adjective

spur-of-the-mo·​ment ˈspər-ə(v)-ṯẖə-ˈmō-mənt 

: occurring or developing without premeditation : hastily extemporized

a spur-of-the-moment decision

Synonyms of spur-of-the-moment

• impromptu
• improvised
• improvisational

Examples of spur-of-the-moment in a Sentence

a spur-of-the-moment trip to the zoo

Recent Examples on the Web

Ruffalo plays Tom Brandis, a former priest who now heads an FBI task force looking into a string of murders and drug deals — as well as a spur-of-the-moment kidnapping — that happened in the backwoods of Pennsylvania’s Delaware County. — Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 6 Aug. 2026

The unexpected weekend getaway While planning ahead is crucial during the busy summer months, some of the best memories come from those spur-of-the-moment trips. — Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

Others, like Ceruto's client, who booked a spur-of-the-moment trip to Bali, are just lucky. — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Plan Your Visit Isle Royale—an archipelago of more than 400 islands including the main island, about 50 miles long and 9 miles wide—isn't a spur-of-the-moment park; a trip here requires meticulous preparation and planning. — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spur-of-the-moment

• enrolment
• moment

Kids Definition

spur-of-the-moment

adjective

: made or done by the sudden making up of one's mind

a spur-of-the moment decision