improvise

verb

im·​pro·​vise ˈim-prə-ˌvīz How to pronounce improvise (audio)
 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 How to pronounce improvise (audio)
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 On this record, a lot of the lyrics are improvised. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2024 During landing, a laser instrument that was meant to measure the spacecraft’s altitude and velocity wasn’t working, so the team had to improvise, using an experimental NASA instrument on board to collect data. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 The actors said event organizers soon told them to scrap the scripts and just improvise as the characters they were supposed to play. Angela Yang, NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 In response, Intuitive Machines improvised a software patch that let Odysseus commandeer two lasers onboard an experimental navigation payload built by NASA. Michael Greshko, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024 Persistent danger has also encouraged Israel to improvise. Shashank Joshi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 The low-budget dramedy about two couples living in a small city on the Polish border was completely improvised. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024 When Kylie raised the question of who would look after their girls — Wyatt Elizabeth, 4; Elliotte, 2; and Bennett, who turns 1 next week — during their date night, Jason quickly improvised. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 But being able to improvise responses to one another’s songs in the moment from a vast grab bag of recorded music made the game of collective listening more playful. Tim Davis, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near improvise

Cite this Entry

“Improvise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/improvise. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

improvise

verb
im·​pro·​vise ˌim-prə-ˈvīz How to pronounce improvise (audio)
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-

More from Merriam-Webster on improvise

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