improvise

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

|Updated on: 5 Jun 2018

Examples: improvise in a Sentence

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

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

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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

But overall, his ability to improvise and make something happen when all else fails is nowhere near what Patterson has shown through two years in college.

— nick baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "If Michigan QBs return to efficiency, Jim Harbaugh's offense can reignite," 30 May 2018
For years, people with disabilities and special needs have had to improvise.

— emily matchar, Smithsonian, "Designing “Adaptive Clothing” For Those With Special Needs," 8 May 2018
With no diamond on campus, the Wentworth baseball team has to improvise and persevere — but the players do it all without complaint.

— stan grossfeld, BostonGlobe.com, "The baseball team without a home," 1 May 2018
French cellist Leila Bordreuil is a rising figure on New York’s improvising scene.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "French cellist and sound artist Leila Bordreuil diffuses and distorts bowed lines in her Chicago debut," 8 Mar. 2018
In rehearsal, Alexander, playing George as being transfixed on his personal peep show, improvised throwing a box of Tic Tacs at her.

— marc freeman, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Seinfeld' Finale at 20: Hidden Tales From the Vault of a Comedian's Bizarro World," 13 May 2018
As the band grooved to their wavy single, Levine improvised a few runs and some sultry falsetto that made for an all-around flawless performance.

— taylor weatherby, Billboard, "Maroon 5 Performs Colorful Rendition of 'Wait' at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards," 11 Mar. 2018
In a panic Yurovsky improvised a new plan, leaving the bodies and rushing into Ekaterinburg for supplies.

— simon sebag montefiore, Town & Country, "The Devastating True Story of the Romanov Family's Execution," 5 Oct. 2016
Roosevelt tried to improvise, but his legendary diplomatic skills failed him.

— jay winik, WSJ, "Summitry Can Be Risky Business," 3 May 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1788

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year