as in impromptu
made or done without previous thought or preparation
not bad for an ad-lib comedy routine
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in improvisation
something that is performed, made, or done without preparation
you would never suspect that that stirring speech was an ad-lib
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to improvise
to perform, make, or do without preparation
had to ad-lib constructing a piñata because she'd never actually seen it being done
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ad-lib
Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The ad-lib dramatically changed the scene from how Trier and Vogt had written it.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Puzzled, Aggie climbs the stairs and — as Nile continues to ad-lib — finds Teddy, dead, suffocated with a bag, in Cooper’s room, which is decked out to match the live feed.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Recently, Chance The Rapper told DJ Bootleg Kev about Mac playing a vital role in one of his most famous ad-libs, noting that the moment occurred during an LA recording session with Chuck Inglish.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Urban often ad-libs comments when performing the song live.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Between the ad-libs to start the cut and rapping over drill 808s mixed with Jersey club, Cardi appears to be taking a page out of the Ice Spice playbook.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
Being able to ad-lib was such a steep learning curve for me.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
At the same time, more ad-lib moments are often expected onstage, bound to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
—Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 15 Mar. 2023
Verb
They were encouraged to ad-lib in character as Guest collected more than 60 hours of footage before taking a year to whittle it down to 84 minutes.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
The ad-lib dramatically changed the scene from how Trier and Vogt had written it.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Puzzled, Aggie climbs the stairs and — as Nile continues to ad-lib — finds Teddy, dead, suffocated with a bag, in Cooper’s room, which is decked out to match the live feed.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Recently, Chance The Rapper told DJ Bootleg Kev about Mac playing a vital role in one of his most famous ad-libs, noting that the moment occurred during an LA recording session with Chuck Inglish.
—Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
Urban often ad-libs comments when performing the song live.
—Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Between the ad-libs to start the cut and rapping over drill 808s mixed with Jersey club, Cardi appears to be taking a page out of the Ice Spice playbook.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2025
Being able to ad-lib was such a steep learning curve for me.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ad-lib
Adjective
-
Some prefer no official invite, instead letting the impromptu feeling of a driveway social speak for itself.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 May 2026
-
And this atmosphere also makes thrilling, impromptu musical moments happen.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The students have been studying jazz big band repertoire, improvisation techniques and the art of ensemble performance weekly with Larson, Rick Salonen from the University of Arkansas and Ryan Yumang from the University of North Texas.—
Eric E. Harrison,
Arkansas Online,
25 Apr. 2026
-
His practice hinges on improvisation, resulting in blunt, expressive, and unpredictable work.—
Maxie Younger,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To survive, the Apollo 13 crew had to improvise a CO₂ scrubber from the materials on hand, things like plastic bags, cardboard and tape.—
Alan Bradley,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
Well after midnight, after two long pieces—and an hour of improvising—Jarrett brought the music to a delicate close.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Hendrix first captured the world’s attention in December 2024, when one TikTok clip of her improvisational crowd work skyrocketed to 21 million views.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
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The band was also known for extended, improvisational live performances that reimagined their songs onstage.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
Verb
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For instance, in 2020, Hendon’s lab helped devise a mathematical model for brewing the perfect cup of espresso, over and over, while minimizing waste.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Oak Park community united earlier this month to devise a plan to address public health in the absence of the hospital.—
Cam'ron Hardy,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP Portland police said in a statement Saturday night that during an ensuing search of the vehicle and building, investigators located several incendiary and improvised explosive devices, some of which had partially detonated.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
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She was blessed with an unstinting energy and buoyancy that had her dashing off postcards far and wide, answering e-mails with improvised poetry, and cold-calling younger writers to offer encouragement.—
Pico Iyer,
Air Mail,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
For decades, astronomers have concocted intricate computer models to predict how stars live and die.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
3 May 2026
-
Just how defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will concoct and deploy that approach, of course, will be a work in progress.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The future, instead, seems to belong to the teams and coaches who are willing to be a little more flexible and see their role as providing a platform on which their players might extemporize.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
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Friends said he was talented and could extemporize about anything.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Ad-lib.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ad-lib. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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