improvise
verb /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/
/ˈɪmprəvaɪz/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they improvise | /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/ /ˈɪmprəvaɪz/ |
| he / she / it improvises | /ˈɪmprəvaɪzɪz/ /ˈɪmprəvaɪzɪz/ |
| past simple improvised | /ˈɪmprəvaɪzd/ /ˈɪmprəvaɪzd/ |
| past participle improvised | /ˈɪmprəvaɪzd/ /ˈɪmprəvaɪzd/ |
| -ing form improvising | /ˈɪmprəvaɪzɪŋ/ /ˈɪmprəvaɪzɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to make or do something using whatever is available, usually because you do not have what you really need
- There isn't much equipment. We're going to have to improvise.
- improvise something We improvised some shelves out of planks of wood and bricks.
- We hastily improvised a screen out of an old blanket.
- You can quickly improvise a shield to protect your arm.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- freely
- hastily
- quickly
- …
- have to
- [intransitive, transitive] to invent music, the words in a play, a statement, etc. while you are playing or speaking, instead of planning it in advance
- ‘It'll be ready some time next week, I expect,’ she said, improvising.
- improvise on something He improvised on the melody.
- improvise something an improvised speech
Word Originearly 19th cent. (earlier (late 18th cent.) as improvisation): from French improviser or its source, Italian improvvisare, from improvviso ‘extempore’, from Latin improvisus ‘unforeseen’, based on provisus, past participle of providere ‘make preparation for’.