improv

English

Etymology

Clipping of improvisation and improvise.

Pronunciation

  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɪmpɹɑv/
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɪmpɹɒv/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)
  • Hyphenation: im‧prov

Noun

improv (countable and uncountable, plural improvs)

  1. (informal) Improvisation.
  2. (acting) A form of live entertainment characterized by improvisation and interaction with the audience.
    • 2024 May 14, Clay Drinko, “Lower Your Expectations”, in Psychology Today[1]:
      During one improv workshop, Keith Johnstone told me to clear my mind and start again.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

improv (third-person singular simple present improvs, present participle improvving, simple past and past participle improvved)

  1. To perform improv.