Standard Lemma guide

extemporize

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To perform or speak without prior planning or thought; to act in an impromptu manner; to improvise.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To adapt, improvise, or devise action or speech in an impromptu or spontaneous manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

perform without preparation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he extemporized a speech at the wedding

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: improvise, improvize, ad-lib, extemporise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: perform, execute, do

4

verb

Meaning 4

manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • after the hurricane destroyed our house, we had to improvise for weeks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: improvise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manage

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English extempore Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English extemporize From extempore + -ize.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: импровизирам (improviziram) — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • German: extemporieren — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Greek: αυτοσχεδιάζω (aftoschediázo) — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Italian: parlare a braccio — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Italian: improvvisare — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Persian: سرهمبندی کردن (sar-ham-bandi kardan) — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Persian: بالبداهه گفتن (belbedâhe goftan) — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Polish: improwizować — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Polish: zaimprowizować — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Russian: импровизи́ровать (improvizírovatʹ) — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought
  • Slovak: improvizovať — to act, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought