improvising

VERB

make up

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 improv improvisate knock off make do slapdash speak off the cuff wing it

Antonyms

WEAK

design plan premeditate

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.

When director Robert Vince was filming "Air Bud Returns," he was impressed to see Roscoe, his four-legged star, improvising concern in a scene where two humans burst into tears.

From Barron's • May 10, 2026

Elite teams managed by him maintain an ideal combination of intelligence within structure, and he has players capable of improvising solutions when patterns break down.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

As a lifelong dancer, I’ve always appreciated the value of learning choreography before improvising.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2025

Two sopranos and a countertenor depict a paradisiacal dream world of “fairies in the forest,” accompanied by an improvising violin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

We make angels and devils of our own want and regard, improvising from ourselves along the way.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee