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Impromptu most often describes things, such as speeches or gatherings, that are not prepared ahead of time but that instead happen spontaneously. An impromptu concert or photoshoot, for example, is conceived and executed in the moment. Impromptu was borrowed—spelling, meaning, and all—from French in the mid-18th century. The French had gotten the word from Latin, from the phrase in promptu, meaning “in readiness.” But the presence of prompt in there is no coincidence: both impromptu and prompt are ultimately derived from the Latin promere, meaning “to bring forth, take out.”
Examples of impromptu in a Sentence
Tony Jones, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
David Wileman, who ran the place after Skull died, said Johnny Cash, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson all jumped on the checkerboard stage at Skull's Rainbow Room for an impromptu performance one night in 1969.
—Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 7 Oct. 2025
From impromptu performances on bustling sidewalks and subway cars, to intimate interactions with fans and passersby, Sheeran’s journey through New York will be captured in a series of unforgettable moments, highlighting the pandemonium and excitement that follows.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2025
With their pastel-pretty facades and flower box gardens that residents tend to with utmost care, the colorful alleys of Villefranche-sur-Mer are made for impromptu Instagram shoots.
—Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impromptu
Cite this Entry
“Impromptu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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