as in to devise
to perform, make, or do without preparation
since the award was a complete surprise, I improvised an acceptance speech
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Recent Examples of improvise
There’s a moment in Diamond between me and Vicky that was improvised in our last scene together.
—
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 20 May 2026
But Daisy doesn't realize the appointment would happen quickly, forcing her to improvise.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
The Luftwaffe had destroyed the harbor, so Tennant had to improvise.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 May 2026
Even the wiring had to be improvised at scale, with metal rods used in place of traditional jumper wires, since no off-the-shelf equivalents exist for a project of this size.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for improvise
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 20 May 2026
But Daisy doesn't realize the appointment would happen quickly, forcing her to improvise.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026
The Luftwaffe had destroyed the harbor, so Tennant had to improvise.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 May 2026
Even the wiring had to be improvised at scale, with metal rods used in place of traditional jumper wires, since no off-the-shelf equivalents exist for a project of this size.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for improvise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvise
Verb
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Counties across the state have been pondering this crisis and devising solutions that can be accomplished in partnership with our state leaders — because this crisis is unquestionably our shared responsibility to solve.—
Monica Montgomery Steppe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 May 2026
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Rue frantically offered to help get Alamo's money back, calling Faye (Chloe Cherry) up on the phone and devising a plan to get a safe key from Wayne (Toby Wallace).—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Their fragrances were always concocted around a storyline.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
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Driver’s character concocts a way for the duo to start an environmental business together as Russians, largely the mafia, are involved in recalibrating a canal in New York City.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
Verb
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The future, instead, seems to belong to the teams and coaches who are willing to be a little more flexible and see their role as providing a platform on which their players might extemporize.—
Rory Smith,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
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Friends said he was talented and could extemporize about anything.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Improvise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/improvise. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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