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Definitions

improv

[im-prov] / ˈɪm prɒv /

ADJECTIVE

extemporaneous

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

Antonyms

WEAK

deliberate planned premeditated prepared rehearsed

ADJECTIVE

extemporaneous/extemporary

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad lib at first glance automatic by ear casual expedient extempore free immediate impromptu improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift off the cuff off the top of head offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment taking for ride thought out loud tossed off tossed out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unstudied winging it

Antonyms

WEAK

planned prepared read rehearsed written

ADJECTIVE

impromptu

Synonyms

STRONGEST

offhand spontaneous unscripted

STRONG

ad-lib fake

WEAK

dashed off extemporaneous extempore extemporized faked improviso off the cuff played by ear shot from the hip spur-of-the-moment thrown off tossed off unpremeditated unprepared unstudied vamped whipped up winged

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deliberate planned

ADJECTIVE

informal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

casual relaxed

STRONG

easygoing everyday natural unfussy

WEAK

breezy congenial down-home extempore familiar folksy free free-and-easy homey improvised laid-back loose low-pressure mellow off-the-cuff open ordinary spontaneous throwaway unceremonious unconstrained unrestrained without ceremony

Antonyms

STRONGEST

buttoned-up dressed-up formal

STRONG

rigid stiff

WEAK

ceremonial ceremonious fussy

ADJECTIVE

off the cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib extemporaneous improvised improviso offhand played by ear shot from the hip spontaneous spur-of-the-moment unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unscripted whipped up winged

ADJECTIVE

off-the-cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

ADJECTIVE

spur-of-the-moment

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

ADVERB

off the cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib by ear extemporaneously impromptu improvised makeshift off the hip off the top of one's head offhand unrehearsed

VERB

improvise

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ad-lib brainstorm concoct contrive devise dream up invent throw together

STRONG

coin extemporize fake jam spark

WEAK

dash off do off top of head do offhand fake it improvisate made do speak off the cuff wing it

Antonyms

WEAK

design plan premeditate

VERB

make up

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib blend coin combine compose compound concoct construct contrive cook up devise dream up fabricate fabulize fake it fashion fictionalize fix formulate frame fuse hatch improvise invent join knock off make meld merge mingle mix originate play by ear prepare pretend put together ready storify trump up whip up wing it write

Antonyms

WEAK

be real tell the truth

VERB

wing it

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib concoct devise do off the top of your head do offhand fake it invent make do make up play it by ear speak off the cuff throw together

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And, much like improv, bread pudding can absolutely fall flat.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

What I love most about improv is the responsiveness of it.

From Salon • May 25, 2026

But also I knew early on that he was absolutely the right person to do this because we’d had a brief meeting where he and I began to improv.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

"I've been doing sketch, character comedy and improv since university," said Sidi, who recently toured a show that saw her play former civil servant Sue Gray.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

The algorithm is a rule that protects the doctors from being swamped with too much information—the same way that the rule of agreement protects improv actors when they get up onstage.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

improv

Example Sentences

Related Words