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
Citing the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Beach Boys, and Motown as early influences, Rikk would bang his drums while their father strummed along with his acoustic guitar and sometimes improvised songs that Rikk would play along to.
—
Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
At one point, the boat’s mainsail yard snapped, forcing Jarrett and his crew to improvise a solution using only Viking-era materials.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 May 2025
When he’s pressured or forced to improvise, though, issues pop up.
—Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 21 May 2025
At one point, she was asked to put down the sides and improvise.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for improvise
Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
At one point, the boat’s mainsail yard snapped, forcing Jarrett and his crew to improvise a solution using only Viking-era materials.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 May 2025
When he’s pressured or forced to improvise, though, issues pop up.
—Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 21 May 2025
At one point, she was asked to put down the sides and improvise.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for improvise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for improvise
Verb
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Alison devises a plan to escape her creative paralysis.—
Charlie Tyson,
New Yorker,
4 June 2025
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The city devised a growth strategy with the University of Georgia’s Vinson Institute for Government and, over the past 10 years, spent around $500 million to improve public schools and build music venues and other public infrastructure.—
Patrik Jonsson,
Christian Science Monitor,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Desperate to revive his reputation, Zach gains the trust of nerdy outcast Laney (Cook) to concoct a vain scheme to turn her into the next prom queen.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
30 May 2025
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Toronto worked back from an early deficit but couldn’t concoct another comeback win, falling to 22-24 on the season.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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 10 Jun. 2025.
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