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improvise

im·pro·vise

improvise

 
pronunciation:
Im pr vaIz
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb
features:
Word Combinations (verb), Word History, Word Explorer, Word Parts
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: improvises, improvising, improvised
definition 1: to create or provide without preparation or practice, esp. in music, speech, or writing.
She didn't have time to prepare a speech, so she improvised one.He didn't have his music with him, so he just improvised something.
similar words:
ad-lib
definition 2: to construct or compose from whatever materials are available or handy.
We improvised a shelter using fallen branches.
similar words:
contrive, patch, rig
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to meet the needs of the moment by creating, saying, or doing something in a spontaneous, unplanned way.
It was a tough question that she didn't have a ready-made answer for, so she had to improvise.
similar words:
ad-lib, play it by ear
definition 2: to compose new music in the act of playing it.
They start out playing as the music is written, then they improvise.
similar words:
ad-lib
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Word History
Improvise comes from improvviso, an Italian word that means "not prepared" or "not known in advance."
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