# improvised

/ˈɪmpɹəˌvaɪzd/ (US) · /ˈɪmpɹəvˌaɪzd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/improvised
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. made without planning

adjective · CEFR B2

made or done without preparation, often because you have to use what is around you at the time.

For teachers: created or performed spontaneously without prior preparation or rehearsal, often necessitated by a lack of standard resources.

- The campers slept under an improvised shelter made from branches and a plastic sheet.
- The comedian's improvised response to the heckler was so sharp that many in the audience assumed it had been scripted in advance.

## Examples

- We sat on improvised chairs made of old wooden crates.
- The actor forgot his lines but gave an improvised speech that the audience loved.
- In the absence of professional medical supplies, the rescue team used an improvised stretcher made from sturdy branches and a heavy canvas tarp.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.