impromptu — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Improvised; without prior preparation, planning, or rehearsal.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   extemporaneousextemporead libunplanned

   Examples

   an impromptu speech

   The party began with an impromptu rendition of “Happy Birthday”.

   More examples (2)

   The city of Placerville, California, also known as Hangtown, is losing the noose on its logo. […] After an impromptu citizens’ jury agreed to hang a man accused of a crime, the town became known as Hangtown. It took on the name Placerville in 1854.

   I can appreciate that Macca’s band plays faithful to the source material, never putting too obvious a personal spin on the music. It’s sometimes frustrating, especially when the solo part in “Get Back” is screaming for some impromptu finesse, but it’s mostly fair.

Adverb

1. Extemporaneously; without prior preparation, planning, or rehearsal.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Synonyms

   ex temporeextemporead libcold

   Examples

   happened impromptu

   was done impromptu

Noun

1. A short musical composition for an informal occasion often with the character of improvisation and usually to be played solo.

   Examples

   The second impromptu is a dance-like Allegretto in A flat major, with a trio in D flat major employing arpeggiated textures.

2. Any composition, musical or otherwise, that is created on the spot without preparation.

   Usage

   • broadly

Verb

1. To compose offhand.

   Synonyms

   extemporizeimprovise

Adjective

1. with little or no preparation or forethought

   Synonyms

   ad-libextemporaneousextemporaryextemporeoffhandoffhandedoff-the-cuffunrehearsed

   Examples

   his ad-lib comments showed poor judgment

   an extemporaneous piano recital

   More examples (7)

   an extemporary lecture

   an extempore skit

   an impromptu speech

   offhand excuses

   trying to sound offhanded and reassuring

   an off-the-cuff toast

   a few unrehearsed comments

Noun

1. an extemporaneous speech or remark

   Broader terms

   addressspeech

   Examples

   a witty impromptu must not sound premeditated

2. a short musical passage that seems to have been made spontaneously without advance preparation

   Broader terms

   passagemusical passage

Adverb

1. without advance preparation

   Synonyms

   ad libad libitumspontaneously

   Examples

   he spoke ad lib