ad-lib
Example Sentences
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The notion that he’d ad-lib a mention of Harp, or include one in his prepared remarks without thinking through the possible ramifications, strains believability.
From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026
Williams was elusive and made some great ad-lib plays down the stretch, and they dominated possession, but allowing big plays cost them dearly.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025
“But not, like, sobbing,” Tina says, in an ad-lib by Colón-Zayas.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2025
I would want to do everything real, and Jonathan would always encourage me to ad-lib and improvise.
From Salon ● Mar. 25, 2025
You’ll feel free to ad-lib in the confidence that you can return to your thread.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
Geller, last year’s valedictorian, ad-libbed “millionaires suck” during his commencement address.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
On “The Apprentice,” Trump was depicted as a larger-than-life, wildly successful and decisive boardroom boss, who ad-libbed what would become the show’s catchphrase, “You’re fired.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2025
“I was too young to be in the Senate,” he then ad-libbed in a joke, “and too old to be the president.”
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2024
"Stevie Wonder is on there as well, which is sort of thing only happens when you record in LA," he laughs, noting that the song was "very ad-libbed... it even finishes and starts up again".
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2023
As Piper ad-libbed answers, Leo jumped on the serpent’s back.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
His ad-libbing in the post-kinetic stage isn’t his finest hour.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
Twelve grown adults, sitting around a table on a Saturday afternoon being silly and ad-libbing as their own cartoonish inventions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2024
He then went further, ad-libbing to suggest that no other world leader would want to change places with Mr. Xi, given the scope of his recent problems.
From New York Times ● Feb. 7, 2023
He points out actors’ performances and ad-libbing, costuming, make-up and visual effects design heightening the humor; and he regrets cutting lots of stuff in scenes due to lack of final run time.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 29, 2023
Next thing I know, TJ and I are ad-libbing back and forth in harmony over the chorus.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
Vocabulary lists containing ad-lib
Reading: Literature - Drama - Introductory
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Theater - Introductory
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Reading: Literature - Drama - Middle School
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