intransitive to do something without preparing it first, often because the situation does not allow you to prepare
She’d forgotten her carefullywrittenspeech, but knew she could easily improvise.
Synonyms and related words
To do something without preparation
rush into
fall into
plunge in
1a
intransitive/transitive if a performer in a play or a group of musicians improvises, they invent words or musical notes without preparing them or learning them before
The last two scenes were completelyimprovised.
Synonyms and related words
To perform or entertain, or to be performed
amuse
appear
compère
2
transitive to make something from whatever is available, although it is not what you normally use
We usedoldshirts to improvise dressings for their wounds.
Synonyms and related words
To make something start to exist or happen
bring about
trigger
form
improvise
verb
US /ˈɪmprəˌvaɪz/
Word Forms
present tense
I/you/we/they
improvise
he/she/it
improvises
present participle
improvising
past tense
improvised
past participle
improvised
DEFINITIONS2
1
intransitive to do something without preparing it first, often because the situation does not allow you to prepare
She’d forgotten her carefullywrittenspeech, but knew she could easily improvise.
Synonyms and related words
To do something without preparation
rush into
fall into
plunge in
1a
intransitive/transitive if a performer in a play or a group of musicians improvises, they invent words or musical notes without preparing them or learning them before
The last two scenes were completelyimprovised.
Synonyms and related words
To perform or entertain, or to be performed
amuse
appear
compère
2
transitive to make something from whatever is available, although it is not what you normally use
We usedoldshirts to improvise dressings for their wounds.