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View synonyms for extemporize

extemporize

[ ik-stem-puh-rahyz ]

verb (used without object)

, ex·tem·po·rized, ex·tem·po·riz·ing.
  1. to speak extemporaneously:

    He can extemporize on any of a number of subjects.

  2. to sing, or play on an instrument, composing the music as one proceeds; improvise.
  3. to do or manage something in a makeshift way.


verb (used with object)

, ex·tem·po·rized, ex·tem·po·riz·ing.
  1. to make or devise extempore.
  2. Music. to compose offhand; improvise.

extemporize

/ ɪkˈstɛmpəˌraɪz /

verb

  1. to perform, speak, or compose (an act, speech, piece of music, etc) without planning or preparation
  2. to use (a temporary solution) for an immediate need; improvise


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Derived Forms

  • exˌtemporiˈzation, noun
  • exˈtempoˌrizer, noun

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Other Words From

  • ex·tempo·ri·zation noun
  • ex·tempo·rizer noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of extemporize1

First recorded in 1635–45; extempore + -ize

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Example Sentences

The small jelly-speck, which we call the amœba, has no organs save what it can extemporize as occasion arises.

If you extemporize you can get much closer to your audience.

I have known but one other person besides Hook, who could extemporize in English; and he wanted the confidence to do it in public.

Yet another use, on which much ingenuity was expended in the 18th century, is to extemporize retrenchments.

My saddle, a hunting one, could not be kept in place, and we had to extemporize a breast-plate with string.

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