Did you know?
Impromptu most often describes things, such as speeches or gatherings, that are not prepared ahead of time but that instead happen spontaneously. An impromptu concert or photoshoot, for example, is conceived and executed in the moment. Impromptu was borrowed—spelling, meaning, and all—from French in the mid-18th century. The French had gotten the word from Latin, from the phrase in promptu, meaning “in readiness.” But the presence of prompt in there is no coincidence: both impromptu and prompt are ultimately derived from the Latin promere, meaning “to bring forth, take out.”
Examples of impromptu in a Sentence
Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 24 Feb. 2025
While self-awareness is great, turning a date into an impromptu therapy session can feel intrusive and impersonal, making the other person feel analyzed rather than understood.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
The post highlighted an impromptu act of kindness that turned a gym's women's locker room into a hub of positivity.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
Genre: Drama Two teen boys (played by Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal) convince an older woman (Maribel Verdú) to join them on an impromptu road trip to a mystical Mexican beach.
—Aislyn Greene, AFAR Media, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impromptu
Cite this Entry
“Impromptu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impromptu. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy Citation
Share