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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
Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
The roadsides are often awash in blue, providing picturesque backdrops for impromptu photo shoots.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
Sunday, though, and especially the impromptu late-night gathering at the Linebacker Lounge after a public visitation for Holtz, was about something else.
—Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Few things are more miserable than wet socks or suede sandals ruined by an impromptu downpour.
—Iman Balagam, InStyle, 16 Mar. 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 27 Mar. 2026.
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