Definitions

improv

[im-prov] / ˈɪm prɒv /

ADJECTIVE

extemporaneous

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu 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 by ear casual expedient extempore free immediate impromptu 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

impromptu

Synonyms

STRONGEST

offhand spontaneous unscripted

STRONG

ad-lib fake

WEAK

dashed off extemporaneous extempore extemporized faked improviso off the cuff played by ear shot from the hip spur-of-the-moment thrown off tossed off unpremeditated unprepared unstudied vamped whipped up winged

Antonyms

STRONGEST

deliberate planned

ADJECTIVE

informal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

casual relaxed

STRONG

easygoing everyday natural unfussy

WEAK

breezy congenial down-home extempore familiar folksy free free-and-easy homey improvised laid-back loose low-pressure mellow off-the-cuff open ordinary spontaneous throwaway unceremonious unconstrained unrestrained without ceremony

Antonyms

STRONGEST

buttoned-up dressed-up formal

STRONG

rigid stiff

WEAK

ceremonial ceremonious fussy

ADJECTIVE

off the cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib extemporaneous improvised improviso offhand played by ear shot from the hip spontaneous spur-of-the-moment unpremeditated unprepared unrehearsed unscripted whipped up winged

ADJECTIVE

off-the-cuff

Synonyms

WEAK

ad hoc ad-lib automatic autoschediastic by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu 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 by ear casual expedient extemporary extempore fake free immediate impromptu 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 by ear extemporaneously impromptu improvised makeshift off the hip off the top of one's head offhand unrehearsed

VERB

improvise

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ad-lib brainstorm concoct contrive devise dream up invent throw together

STRONG

coin extemporize fake jam spark

WEAK

dash off do off top of head do offhand fake it improvisate made do speak off the cuff wing it

Antonyms

WEAK

design plan premeditate

VERB

make up

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib blend coin combine compose compound concoct construct contrive cook up devise dream up fabricate fabulize fake it fashion fictionalize fix formulate frame fuse hatch improvise invent join knock off make meld merge mingle mix originate play by ear prepare pretend put together ready storify trump up whip up wing it write

Antonyms

WEAK

be real tell the truth

VERB

wing it

Synonyms

WEAK

ad-lib concoct devise do off the top of your head do offhand fake it invent make do make up play it by ear speak off the cuff throw together

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.

He ripped through courses in improv, stand-up and screenwriting.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

But also I knew early on that he was absolutely the right person to do this because we’d had a brief meeting where he and I began to improv.

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

If you’re unaware, think confident, unpredictable and hilarious improv at its finest.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

She came up in the world of Toronto’s Second City improv, working as an understudy for Gilda Radner, one of the original seven “Saturday Night Live” cast members.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

If you can create the right framework, all of a sudden, engaging in the kind of fluid, effortless, spur-of-the-moment dialogue that makes for good improv theater becomes a lot easier.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

improv

Example Sentences

Related Words