improvise
verb
im·pro·vise
ˈim-prə-ˌvīz 
also ˌim-prə-ˈvīz
improvised; improvising
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
: to improvise something
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
Lohan improvised many of the hilarious quirks in the moment, despite only having simple instructions on the page.
—
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 31 May 2025
According to LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner, the director, improvised a scene in which Hunt’s character would be raped.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 May 2025
Golden tackles the marathon takes with sheer exuberance, scatting and improvising her way through the many abrupt shifts in style.
—Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
Tech Inspired By Context-Aware, Adaptive Crows Urban crows in Japan drop nuts onto crosswalks, timing traffic to crack shells and safely retrieve food—an elegant display of living intelligence improvising and adapting to an urban environment.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for improvise
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Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 31 May 2025
According to LaBella’s lawsuit, Costner, the director, improvised a scene in which Hunt’s character would be raped.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 28 May 2025
Golden tackles the marathon takes with sheer exuberance, scatting and improvising her way through the many abrupt shifts in style.
—Jeff Gage, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025
Tech Inspired By Context-Aware, Adaptive Crows Urban crows in Japan drop nuts onto crosswalks, timing traffic to crack shells and safely retrieve food—an elegant display of living intelligence improvising and adapting to an urban environment.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for improvise
Cite this Entry
“Improvise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/improvise. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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-
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