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Glite Dictionary
to improvise

to improvise

141 4.0
Do something without planning, using what you have
  • verb
  • /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/
translation icon : improvisar
  • Without a plan, we had to improvise a makeshift meal from the ingredients we had on hand.
  • learn to improvise
  • improvise a solo
  • musicians improvise

The actors are going to improvise and rework the dialogue anyway.

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Examples

  • With help from your fellow actors, you improvise as you go.

    The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

  • I also liked singing with a group of people who could improvise harmonies.

    Academic text (2011)

  • And I thought that I could improvise and use it for this.

  • We had to really kind of improvise on what we used for strength equipment.

  • You can write, you know, write or improvise something and and film that.

  • I think being able to to improvise is really valuable.

  • Perhaps now is a good time to improvise.

    The Wild (2006)

  • We had a really good time recording and improvising in the studio.

    W Magazine

  • Jimmy, you've gotta be willing to improvise.

    Blades of Glory (2007)

  • The actors are going to improvise and rework the dialogue anyway.

    Big Think

Synonyms

to wing it
vsto improvise
  • Informal
28 6.1

Do something without planning or preparation and improvise

often does this by using whatever is available
to make it up as one goes along
vsto improvise
  • Informal
11 6.6

Decide or think of things during a situation without planning ahead

often does so by using whatever is available
to ad-lib
vsto improvise
8 6.8

To say or act without preparation

applies to any action without preparation, often using available items
to improv
vsto improvise
  • Informal
3 6.2

To perform without a script, making scenes or music on the spot

applies to broader actions without preparation, often using available items
to lib
vsto improvise
  • Informal
2 9.9

To make something up during a performance when not ready

applies beyond performance to any task without preparation, often using available items
to extemporize
vsto improvise
1 9.0

To make or do something without planning

often does this by using whatever is available

Antonyms

to plan
∞ 1.0

To decide and arrange in advance how to do something

to prepare
∞ 1.0

Make something ready for use or an event

How Spontaneous

to wing it
  • Informal
28 6.1
to improvise
141 4.0
to rehearse
131 3.5
to prepare
∞ 1.0
to plan
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

improvise infinitive
improvised past
improvised past participle
improvising present participle
improvises third person singular

Morphology

improvise = im + provis + ise

Although the form suggests im- + provis(e), the modern meaning 'do or perform without preparation' is not derivable from those parts for an average learner, and 'provis' is not a standalone English word.

Etymology

Improvise comes from parts that mean im- 'not' and provisus 'provided', the same idea in English words like provide and provision. So to improvise is to make or do something without preparation, using what you have.