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by ear

ADJECTIVE

extemporaneous

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

Antonyms

WEAK

deliberate planned premeditated prepared rehearsed

ADJECTIVE

extemporaneous/extemporary

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad lib at first glance automatic casual expedient extempore free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift off the cuff off the top of head offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment taking for ride thought out loud tossed off tossed out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unstudied winging it

Antonyms

WEAK

planned prepared read rehearsed written

ADJECTIVE

off-the-cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous spur-of-the-moment toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

ADJECTIVE

spur-of-the-moment

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu improv improvisatory improvised improviso informal jamming made-up makeshift offhand on impulse on-the-spot snap spontaneous toss off toss out unplanned unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unstudied winging it

ADVERB

off the cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib extemporaneously impromptu improv improvised makeshift off the hip off the top of one's head offhand unrehearsed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"So I'm just kind of playing it by ear."

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

Young Sylvia loved Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan; sang in her church choir and occasionally with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; and played drums, keyboard and guitar by ear.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

“I picked it up by ear and I rearranged it too,” he said, “Because it was another three-minute-long song.’

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

Oscar grew up having piano lessons but has learned to play the organ by ear.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025

If I bump into Nelson wandering about on Lookout Ridge, I’ll play it by ear.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

by ear

Example Sentences

Related Words