An impromptu action is one that you do without planning or organizing it in advance.
This afternoon the Palestinians held an impromptu press conference.
The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.
Synonyms: spontaneous, improvised, unprepared, off-the-cuff [informal] More Synonyms of impromptu
More Synonyms of impromptu
impromptu in British English
(ɪmˈprɒmptjuː)
adjective
1.
unrehearsed; spontaneous; extempore
2.
produced or done without care or planning; improvised
adverb
3.
in a spontaneous or improvised way
he spoke impromptu
noun
4.
something that is impromptu
5.
a short piece of instrumental music, sometimes improvisatory in character
Word origin
C17: from French, from Latin in promptū in readiness, from promptus (adj) ready, prompt
impromptu in American English
(ɪmˈprɑmpˌtu)
adjective, adverb
1.
without preparation or advance thought; offhand
noun
2.
an impromptu speech, performance, etc.
SYNONYMY NOTE: impromptu is applied to that which is spoken, made, or done on the spur of the moment to suitthe occasion and stresses spontaneity; , extemporaneous, extempore (more commonly used as an adverb), and , extemporary may express the same idea but are now more often used of a speech that has receivedsome preparation, but has not been written out or memorized; , improvise verb transitive applies to something composed or devised without any preparation and, with referenceto things other than music, suggests the ingenious use of whatever is at hand to fillan unforeseen and immediate need
Word origin
Fr < L in promptu, in readiness < in, in + promptu, abl. of promptus, readiness < promptus, brought out, ready, prompt
Examples of 'impromptu' in a sentence
impromptu
He then begins an impromptu speech.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They happily obliged and performed an impromptu concert for commuters and carried on playing until their stop.
The Sun (2013)
And a brilliant impromptu speech it was.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Do you remember how hopeless Mummy used to be at impromptu visits?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The man was then allowed to make an impromptu speech to the waiting Chinese.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Getting in the mood, the pair then pushed back their chairs to give diners an impromptu performance.
The Sun (2008)
She had not prepared an acceptance speech; nor had she the confidence to make an impromptu speech.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He found keeping a piano in his study a great comfort and gave an impromptu clarinet performance on taking up his civil service role.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He ended up holding his own impromptu meeting with the media outside the arena's box office after the press conference was over.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The administrator was paying an impromptu visit to Art's class just before the last bell.
Christianity Today (2000)
Most of these impromptu visits end with the promise that "We'll call you as soon as the films are out.
Pantano, James A. (MD) Living with Angina (1991)
Word lists with
impromptu
Types of composition
In other languages
impromptu
British English: impromptu ADJECTIVE
An impromptu action is one that you do without planning or organizing it in advance.
They held an impromptu press conference.
American English: impromptu
Brazilian Portuguese: improvisado
Chinese: 无事先准备的
European Spanish: improvisado
French: impromptu
German: improvisiert
Italian: improvvisato
Japanese: 即席の
Korean: 즉석의
European Portuguese: improvisado
Latin American Spanish: improvisado
(adjective)
Definition
without planning or preparation
They put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.
Synonyms
spontaneous
I joined in the spontaneous applause.
improvised
He grabbed a script and began an improvised performance.
unprepared
The actual comedy is unprepared.
off-the-cuff (informal)
offhand
ad-lib
Sometimes, being in an ad-lib situation is the best way.
unscripted
unrehearsed
unpremeditated
extempore
He made some heated and extempore remarks.
unstudied
extemporaneous
extemporized
Opposites
planned
,
prepared
,
rehearsed
,
considered
,
premeditated
(adverb)
Definition
in a spontaneous or improvised way
Synonyms
spontaneously
He was never spontaneously friendly or warm towards us.
off the cuff (informal)
on the spur of the moment
They admitted they had taken a vehicle on the spur of the moment.
ad lib
off the top of your head (informal)
without preparation
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ad-lib
Definition
improvised
Sometimes, being in an ad-lib situation is the best way.