improvise Hear it!

improvise Definition

im·pro·vise (im′prə vīz′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·vised′, -·vis′·ing

  1. to compose, or simultaneously compose and perform, on the spur of the moment and without any preparation; extemporize
    1. to bring about, make, or do on the spur of the moment to improvise a solution to a problem
    2. 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

improvise Related Forms
im′·pro·vis′er noun or im′·pro·vi′·sor or im·prov′i·sa′·tor-präv′i zāt′ər
improvise Synonyms

improvise

v.

ad-lib*, coin, devise, extemporize; see invent 1.

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

  • way: People improvised in ways which put our organization to shame.
  • studio: This was well before the days of progressive rock ( yawn ) and much of the track was improvised in the studio.