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# improvisation

noun (improvisation — uncountable; an improvisation, improvisations)

«improvisation» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Making something up on the spot, without a script or plan — in music, drama or speech. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#m1)
2. Using whatever you have to solve a problem quickly when you lack the proper things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#m2)
3. A piece of music, drama or speech made up in the moment. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#m3)

### In the lessons

In drama lessons, improvisation (often «improv») means acting a scene without lines; in music, jazz players improvise solos. In everyday life and outdoor survival, improvisation means using a jumper as a pillow or a stick as a splint. Phrases: improv, drama improvisation, jazz improvisation, a bit of improvisation.

### Examples

- In drama we did an improvisation about getting lost at the zoo. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#x1)
- Jazz musicians are famous for improvisation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#x2)
- When the tent pole broke, Dad's improvisation was a long branch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#x3)
- The speech was pure improvisation; she had no notes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#x4)
- Improv games help you think quickly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#x5)
- Our band's best song started as an improvisation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/#x6)

### Note

Verb: «improvise». Short form «improv» (informal, especially US). Countable when it is one piece; uncountable for the skill. Spelling: improvis-ation, not «improvization» in the UK; US also uses improvisation.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «improvisation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/improvisation/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«improvisation» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/improvisation.html) on Mova free.