EXTEMPORIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does extemporize mean? 

• EXTEMPORIZE (verb)
  The verb EXTEMPORIZE has 2 senses:

1. manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand

2. perform without preparation

  Familiarity information: EXTEMPORIZE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXTEMPORIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they extemporize    ... he / she / it extemporizes   
Past simple: extemporized   
Past participle: extemporized   
-ing form: extemporizing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

extemporize; improvise

Context example:

after the hurricane destroyed our house, we had to improvise for weeks

Hypernyms (to "extemporize" is one way to...):

contend; cope; deal; get by; grapple; make do; make out; manage (succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Perform without preparation

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Synonyms:

ad-lib; extemporise; extemporize; improvise; improvize

Context example:

he extemporized a speech at the wedding

Hypernyms (to "extemporize" is one way to...):

do; execute; perform (carry out or perform an action)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

extemporization (a performance given extempore without planning or preparation)

 Context examples 

She was only extemporizing but a stirring warmth flowed from her as if her heart was trying to come out to you concealed in one of those breathless, thrilling words.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)