improvise

verb

im·​pro·​vise ˈim-prə-ˌvīz 

 also  ˌim-prə-ˈvīz

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 noun

or improvisor

ˈim-prə-ˌvī-zər 

ˌim-prə-ˈvī-

Synonyms

• devise
• concoct
• extemporize

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

Despite keeping work on track, improvised fixes often bypass policies and create unintentional risks that could be pathways for threat actors to cause bigger issues, severing business continuity and compromising customer trust. —Daniel Root, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

Such games taught him how to improvise, how to get around multiple defenders and create scoring opportunities out of nothing. —Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 23 June 2025

When the shark finally made its on-screen appearance and Scheider improvised the line, Spielberg chose to keep it in the final cut. —Logan Holland, People.com, 20 June 2025

Sometimes that means acting as a producer on the fly, improvising when other teams arrive at the same location and playing dumb when players get hopelessly lost. —Michael Schneider, Variety, 16 June 2025

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

Rhymes for improvise

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

improvise

verb

im·​pro·​vise ˌim-prə-ˈvīz 

ˈim-prə-ˌvīz

improvised; improvising

1

: to compose, recite, play, or sing without preparation

2

: to make, invent, or arrange on the spur of the moment or without planning

the quarterback improvised a play

3

: to make out of what is conveniently on hand

improvise a bed from leaves and straw

improviser noun

or improvisor

-ˈvī-zər,

-ˌvī-