impromptu
advEtymology Borrowed from French impromptu.
1
Extemporaneously; without prior preparation, planning, or rehearsal.
- happened impromptu
- was done impromptu
impromptu
adjUK /ɪmˈpɹɒmptju/ · US /ɪmˈpɹɑmpt(j)u/
Etymology Borrowed from French impromptu.
1
Improvised; without prior preparation, planning or rehearsal.
- The party began with an impromptu rendition of 'Happy Birthday'.
- an impromptu speech
2 more examples
- The city of Placerville, California, also known as Hangtown, is losing the noose on its logo. […] After an impromptu citizens’ jury agreed to hang a man accused of a crime, the town became known as Hangtown. It took on the name Placerville in 1854.2021 April 14, Rachel Trent, “City known as Hangtown votes to remove noose from its logo”, in CNN, archived from the original on 06 Dec 2022:
- I can appreciate that Macca’s band plays faithful to the source material, never putting too obvious a personal spin on the music. It’s sometimes frustrating, especially when the solo part in “Get Back” is screaming for some impromptu finesse, but it’s mostly fair.2026 March 29, Matt Mitchell, “In LA, Paul McCartney is king”, in AV Club, archived from the original on 06 Apr 2026:
- Synonyms
- ad lib, extemporal, extemporary, extemporaneous, extempore, extemporized, gash, impromptu, improvised, improviso, off-the-cuff, offhand, spur-of-the-moment
- Derived terms
- impromptuly
- Related terms
- designless, undesigned, unscheduled, unplanned, unpremeditated, unrehearsed, unscripted, spontaneous, unprepared, casual, improvisatorial, improvisatory, throwaway, makeshift, make-do, jury-rigged, stopgap