impromptu

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪmˈprɑmptu/ UK /ɪmˈprɒmptjuː/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
done without preparation; spontaneous

She gave an impromptu speech that won the room over.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · done without preparation;... spontaneousimprovisedextemporaneousunrehearsedoffhand unprepared ad-lib

Opposites

rehearsed preparedpremeditatedplanned

Word family

Related forms prompt

Simplified etymology

Impromptu was adopted directly from Latin, where it literally meant “in readiness.” In English its meaning changed to “spontaneous.”

Etymology

From French impromptu, from Latin in promptu ('in readiness, at hand'), from the ablative of promptus ('readiness'), from promere ('to bring forth'), from pro- ('forth') + emere ('to take').

in promptu Latin promere Latin emere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# impromptu

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪmˈprɑmptu/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪmˈprɒmptjuː/

## Meanings
1. done without preparation; spontaneous

## Examples
- She gave an impromptu speech that won the room over.

## Synonyms
- spontaneous
- improvised
- extemporaneous
- unrehearsed
- offhand
- unprepared
- ad-lib

## Antonyms
- rehearsed
- prepared
- premeditated
- planned

## Related Forms
- prompt

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: in promptu
- Root: promere
- Root: emere

## Etymology
From French impromptu, from Latin in promptu ('in readiness, at hand'), from the ablative of promptus ('readiness'), from promere ('to bring forth'), from pro- ('forth') + emere ('to take').

## AI Etymology
Impromptu is from French impromptu, from Latin in promptu ('in readiness, at hand'), from the ablative of promptus ('readiness'), from promere ('to bring forth'), from pro- ('forth') + emere ('to take'). Important recorded forms include in promptu (Latin), promere (Latin), and emere (Latin). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers done without preparation; spontaneous. The wider family includes related words such as prompt.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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