improvise
improvise
Definition
im·pro·vise (im′prə vīz′)
transitive verb, intransitive verb -·vised′, -·vis′·ing
- to compose, or simultaneously compose and perform, on the spur of the moment and without any preparation; extemporize
- to bring about, make, or do on the spur of the moment to improvise a solution to a problem
- to make, provide, or do with the tools and materials at hand, usually to fill an unforeseen and immediate need to improvise a bed out of leaves
Etymology: Fr improviser < It improvvisare < improvviso, unprepared < L improvisus, unforeseen < in-, not + provisus, pp. of providere, to foresee, anticipate: see provide
im′·pro·vis′er noun or im′·pro·vi′·sor or im·prov′i·sa′·tor-präv′i zāt′ər
improvise
Synonyms
improvise
Usage Examples
Object
- stretcher: The Danes carry their chief on an improvised stretcher through Manchester.
- accompaniment: His written accompaniment to Aeterna Christi Munera closely resembles what I recollect of his improvised accompaniment to this hymn.
- music: I've been playing improvised music for a long time.
- comedy: Reggie mixes looped vocals created live on stage with his unique brand of improvised comedy.
- musician: It utilizes repetition in the manner of an improvising jazz musician.
- solo: We all began playing and then it was time for the improvised solos.
Preposition: on
- piano: He says: I started improvising on the piano, I never used to write it down.
- spot: The paths taken within these " virtual worlds " were not pre-recorded, but improvised on the spot through the actions of the crew!
- theme: He loves to improvise on themes taken from Indian soaps.
Noun phrase with adjective complement
- such: I like improvised music such as free jazz and find that people expect much more conceptual work from artists than from musicians.
Modifying Another Word
- hastily: Sure, I had to bolster some outside walls with hastily improvised buttresses, but bless it all, somehow she made it through.
- freely: Each of the five tracks appears to be freely improvised with varying degrees of intensity.
- totally: Possibly, tho we're pretty much on our own with the totally improvised thing at the moment.
- largely: In effect, these largely improvised scenes border on documentary with the kids drawing on horrifyingly true-to-life experiences.
- completely: Performing ten " compositions " and two completely improvised pieces, there is a complete abandonment of anything approaching melody.
- in: Hosted by Mad Flow and Soweto Kinch, these shows feature the region's best in improvised music and lyrics.
Followed by a transitive particle
- around: They have the options of learning the words, reading from scripts or improvising around the theme.
Used with why or when
- when: And along the way, as always, they improvise when the opportunity arises.
Preposition: in
Browse dictionary entries near improvise
- improvisatorial
- improvisation
- improving
- improvidently
- improvident
- improvidence
- improvement
- Improved Mobile Telephone Service
- improved
- improve on or upon
- imprudence
- imprudent
- imprudently
- impudence
- impudent
- impudently
- impudicity
- impugn
- impuissance
- impulse
