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Impromptu most often describes things, such as speeches or gatherings, that are not prepared ahead of time but that instead happen spontaneously. An impromptu concert or photoshoot, for example, is conceived and executed in the moment. Impromptu was borrowed—spelling, meaning, and all—from French in the mid-18th century. The French had gotten the word from Latin, from the phrase in promptu, meaning “in readiness.” But the presence of prompt in there is no coincidence: both impromptu and prompt are ultimately derived from the Latin promere, meaning “to bring forth, take out.”
Examples of impromptu in a Sentence
Dan Duggan, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Near the end of the night, several students reportedly made an impromptu decision to swim in the river near Dartmouth's student docks.
—Corin Cesaric, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Its double-height ceilings in the living room provide the perfect acoustics when performers use the grand piano for impromptu concerts.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
One year prior, Kemper joined Fischer (Pam), Kinsey (Angela), and Mindy Kaling (Kelly) for a festive impromptu reunion.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for impromptu
Cite this Entry
“Impromptu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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