improvise

play

verb im·pro·vise \ˈim-prə-ˌvīz also ˌim-prə-ˈvīz\

Definition of improvise

improvised

;

improvising

transitive verb
1 : to compose, recite, play, or sing extemporaneously
2 : to make, invent, or arrange offhand the quarterback improvised a play
3 : to make or fabricate out of what is conveniently on hand improvise a meal
intransitive verb
: to improvise something

improviser

improvisor

play \ˈim-prə-ˌvī-zər, ˌim-prə-ˈvī-\ noun

See improvise defined for English-language learners

See improvise defined for kids

Examples of improvise in a Sentence

If you forget any of your lines, try to improvise.
Good jazz musicians know how to improvise.
He had to improvise his opening speech when he forgot his notes.
The trumpet player performed an improvised solo.
I wasn't expecting guests, so I had to improvise a meal with what I had in my refrigerator.

Recent Examples of improvise from the Web

Berg remembers the first time that Woods improvised a line about Jared’s tragic backstory.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Silicon Valley’s Jared Dunn: The Sweetest, Darkest, and Funniest Character on TV", 22 June 2017
Berg remembers the first time that Woods improvised a line about Jared’s tragic backstory.

— katey rich, VanityFair.com, "Silicon Valley’s Jared Dunn: The Sweetest, Darkest, and Funniest Character on TV", 22 June 2017
Professional artists sometimes incorporating its elements directly and at other times improvising based on traditional cultural forms.

— michael atwood mason, Smithsonian, "After 50 Years of Song, Dance, Food, Even Hog Calling, at the Folklife Festival, Is It Still Worthwhile?", 22 June 2017
Again and again, Comey planted improvised explosive devices under the president’s path to a second term.

— jeff stein, Newsweek, "Comey Testimony: What He Didn't Say on Russia Probe Should Worry Trump Most", 10 June 2017
So the Salvation Army troops improvised, frying dough in soldier helmets, producing such delicious donuts that when the war was over, when the troops finally came home, the government produced a guide for veterans to open donut shops.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "The brutal war and sweet patriotism that led to National Donut Day", 2 June 2017
Besides a bravura performance on a monologue in which Cléante improvises a song to match his own love story, the man also plays a mean guitar.

— james hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Old Globe's 'Imaginary Invalid' a savvy revisiting of classic", 2 June 2017
Yay Area, pride reached ghost pepper-like heat, technical problems with an oven forced Ayesha Curry to improvise.

— chris macias, sacbee.com, "Bottlerock wows with its food – and oh yeah there’s music, too", 28 May 2017
As Bay Area, a.k.a. Yay Area, pride reached ghost pepper-like heat, technical problems with an oven forced Ayesha Curry to improvise.

— chris macias, sacbee.com, "Bottlerock wows with its food – and oh yeah there’s music, too", 28 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'improvise'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of improvise

French improviser, from Italian improvvisare, from improvviso sudden, from Latin improvisus, literally, unforeseen, from in- + provisus, past participle of providēre to see ahead — more at provide

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First Known Use: 1788

See Words from the same year

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

IMPROVISE Defined for English Language Learners

improvise

play

verb

Definition of improvise for English Language Learners

: to speak or perform without preparation
: to make or create (something) by using whatever is available

IMPROVISE Defined for Kids

improvise

play

verb im·pro·vise \ˈim-prə-ˌvīz\

Definition of improvise for Students

improvised

;

improvising

1 : to speak or perform without preparing ahead of time I improvised a song on the spot.
2 : to make, invent, or arrange by using whatever is available … Cluny sat beneath an awning that had been improvised from the damaged tent. — Brian Jacques, Redwall