51Թ

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improvise

[ im-pruh-vahyz ]

verb (used with object)

improvised, improvising.
  1. to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation; extemporize:

    to improvise an acceptance speech.

  2. to compose, play, recite, or sing (verse, music, etc.) on the spur of the moment.
  3. to make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials are readily available:

    We improvised a dinner from yesterday's leftovers.



verb (used without object)

improvised, improvising.
  1. to compose, utter, execute, or arrange anything extemporaneously:

    When the actor forgot his lines he had to improvise.

improvise

/ ˈɪəˌɪ /

verb

  1. to perform or make quickly from materials and sources available, without previous planning
  2. to perform (a poem, play, piece of music, etc), composing as one goes along
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈˌ, noun
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • p·e p·ȴǰ noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of improvise1

First recorded in 1820–30; from French improviser, or its source, Italian improvisare (later improvvisare ), verbal derivative of improviso “improvised,” from Latin ōīܲ, equivalent to im- “un-” + ōīܲ, past participle of ōŧ “to see beforehand, prepare, provide for (a future circumstance)”; im- 2, proviso
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of improvise1

C19: from French, from Italian improvvisare, from Latin ōīܲ unforeseen, from im- (not) + ōīܲ, from ōŧ to foresee; see provide
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Because the kitchen is unusable, Blanca has to wash her dishes in the bathtub, and she has improvised a cooking area with a gas camping stove in a corner of her living room.

From

Industry publication Screen Daily said the film was "shot, one suspects, with a touch of guerrilla ingenuity... Last Swim also has a palpably improvised component in the friends' genially pitched running banter."

From

I’ve been very fortunate to work with some of the best and he legitimately was as funny and quick as any person I’ve ever improvised with on camera before.”

From

Frank at least tried his best to improvise, but to see his sobriety quickly dissipate at the stress of it all was indeed bittersweet.

From

I would want to do everything real, and Jonathan would always encourage me to ad-lib and improvise.

From

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