WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
im•pro•vise /ˈɪmprəˌvaɪz/USA pronunciation
v., -vised, -vis•ing.
im•prov•i•sa•tion•al /ɪmˌprɑvəˈzeɪʃənəl/USA pronunciation adj.: improvisational humor.
im•pro•vis•er, im•pro•vi•sor, n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Music and Danceto perform without preparation: [~ + object]The teacher stood before his class and improvised a lecture.[no object]Good jazz musicians can improvise for any length of time.
- to make, provide, or arrange (something) from available materials: [~ + object]to improvise a dinner from the leftovers.[no object]Good teachers know how to improvise.
im•prov•i•sa•tion•al /ɪmˌprɑvəˈzeɪʃənəl/USA pronunciation adj.: improvisational humor.
im•pro•vis•er, im•pro•vi•sor, n. [countable]
im•pro•vise
(im′prə vīz′),USA pronunciation v., -vised, -vis•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
im′pro•vis′er, im′pro•vi′sor, n.
v.t.
- Music and Danceto compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation;
extemporize:to improvise an acceptance speech. - Music and Dance, Show Businessto compose, play, recite, or sing (verse, music, etc.) on the spur of the moment.
- to make, provide, or arrange from whatever materials are readily available:We improvised a dinner from yesterday's leftovers.
v.i.
- Music and Dance, Show Businessto compose, utter, execute, or arrange anything extemporaneously:When the actor forgot his lines he had to improvise.
- Latin imprōvīsus, equivalent. to im- im-2 + prōvīsus past participle of prōvidēre to see beforehand, prepare, provide for (a future circumstance). See proviso
- French improviser, or its source, Italian improvisare (later improvvisare), verb, verbal derivative of improviso improvised
- 1820–30
'improviser' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):