improvise
To improvise means to make things up or create solutions as you go along. It's like thinking on your feet.
When we talk about improvising, we often think of acting, music, or comedy performances where people need to respond quickly and come up with something new in the moment. Imagine being a stand-up comedian who doesn't know what joke will work until they tell it live – that's improvising! But improvising is also useful in everyday life when you're faced with unexpected problems. If your car breaks down, you might improvise a solution by using a spare tire or asking for help from a passerby. In cooking, some people love to improvise recipes and substitute ingredients based on what they have at home.
How common is "improvise"?
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
verb
To make something up or invent it as one goes on; to proceed guided only by imagination, intuition, and guesswork rather than by a careful plan.
Example: He had no speech prepared, so he improvised.
Real examples of "improvise" in context
