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Impromptu most often describes things, such as speeches or gatherings, that are not prepared ahead of time but that instead happen spontaneously. An impromptu concert or photoshoot, for example, is conceived and executed in the moment. Impromptu was borrowed—spelling, meaning, and all—from French in the mid-18th century. The French had gotten the word from Latin, from the phrase in promptu, meaning “in readiness.” But the presence of prompt in there is no coincidence: both impromptu and prompt are ultimately derived from the Latin promere, meaning “to bring forth, take out.”
Examples of impromptu in a Sentence
Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 28 July 2025
After an impromptu long-drive competition, Happy discovers his hockey swing sets him up well for another sport: golf.
—Luke Chinman, People.com, 25 July 2025
Years later, Lionel receives a letter from David, leading to an impromptu journey through the backwoods of Maine to collect traditional songs.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 24 July 2025
Cowboys extension hopeful Micah Parsons didn’t participate at Dallas’s camp Tuesday and held an impromptu chat with reporters to voice his frustrations.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for impromptu
Cite this Entry
“Impromptu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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