improvise

verb

im·pro·vise ˈim-prə-ˌvīz

also ˌim-prə-ˈvīz

improvised; improvising

Synonyms of improvise next

transitive verb

: to compose, recite, play, or sing extemporaneously

: to make, invent, or arrange offhand

the quarterback improvised a play

: to make or fabricate out of what is conveniently on hand

improvise a meal

intransitive verb

: to improvise something

improviser noun

or improvisor

ˈim-prə-ˌvī-zər

ˌim-prə-ˈvī-

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 on the Web The blockade, begun in February, has stalled more than 350 key military appointments, forcing temporary and improvised leadership arrangements across the armed forces. —

Nick Anderson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2023 Howery’s line readings sound improvised, and that’s a good thing. —

Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 19 Nov. 2023 In the Iraq war in the 2000s, the United States used gadgets called jammers to create so much radio noise that improvised explosive devices could not communicate with their remote detonators. —

Aaron Krolik, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023 With no end to the war in sight, hospitals are improvising. —

Hajar Harb, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 During his third deployment in 2012 in Afghanistan, Cedric King, Master Sgt., U.S. Army (Ret.), stepped on a pressure plate improvised explosive device. —

Caroline Brew, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023 Lately, our shows have become more improvised and loose. —

Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 25 Oct. 2023 Christopher appeared as Malcolm X in a play in Jamaica, Queens, and Anthony was playing experimental, improvised music in ensembles alongside Thulani’s poetry in productions downtown. —

Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 1 Nov. 2023 Bajos and her scene partner, G. K. Bowes, completely improvised the conversation. —

WIRED, 1 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'improvise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of improvise was in 1788

See more words from the same year