adj
Uncommon
impromptu
ihm-PROMPT-yoo
Impromptu (adj) means Done without any preparation or planning; spontaneous. Example: “They held an impromptu celebration in the office when the news broke.”
adj
1
Done without any preparation or planning; spontaneous.
"The party began with an impromptu rendition of 'Happy Birthday'."
"They held an impromptu celebration in the office when the news broke."
"His impromptu speech was more memorable than the prepared one."
How to use impromptu
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDone on the spot, without any advance planning.
Common mistake
Impromptu and improvised are very close in meaning; impromptu leans toward "unplanned event," while improvised leans toward "made up on the spot to fill a gap."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
impromptu speech
impromptu party
impromptu performance
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Word forms
- Plural
- impromptus
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They held an _____ celebration in the office when the news broke.
Etymology
Borrowed from French impromptu, ultimately from Latin in promptu ("in readiness").
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “impromptu” mean?
The word “impromptu” means done without any preparation or planning; spontaneous. In plain terms, done on the spot, without any advance planning.
How do you pronounce “impromptu”?
“Impromptu” is pronounced ihm-PROMPT-yoo (/ɪmˈpɹɑmpt(j)u/ in IPA).
How do you use “impromptu” in a sentence?
Here is “impromptu” used in a sentence: “They held an impromptu celebration in the office when the news broke.”
What part of speech is “impromptu”?
“Impromptu” is an adjective.
Where does the word “impromptu” come from?
The word “impromptu” comes from Latin. Borrowed from French impromptu, ultimately from Latin in promptu ("in readiness").
Is “impromptu” a common word?
“Impromptu” is an uncommon word in modern English.
Featured in
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