ad lib
Speak without preparation
Ad lib means to improvise, especially in performance—speaking, singing, or acting without a script or preparation: The teleprompter failed, so she had to ad lib.
As a noun or adjective, an ad lib is an improvised remark or passage: His best jokes were ad libs.
The phrase comes from Latin ad libitum, "at one's pleasure." In music, ad lib indicates a passage to be performed freely.
Speak without preparation
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
- off-the-cuffUnplanned, unrehearsed
- on-the-spotOccurring immediately where needed
unprepared · unscripted · spontaneous · makeshift · unplanned · spur-of-the-moment · inventive · improvisational
Done without advance preparation
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
- remarksSpoken comments or notes
- asideBrief theatrical digression
departure · digression · tangent · filler · pivot · recovery · podium · presenter
Work meant to amuse
- standupSolo comedic performance
- monologueUninterrupted solo address
- banterPlayful, teasing exchange
- patterQuick rehearsed speech
heckler · comeback · one-liner · timing · delivery · stage · audience · host
extemporize
Speak without preparation
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
- off-the-cuffUnplanned, unrehearsed
on-the-spot · unprepared · unscripted · spontaneous · makeshift · unplanned · spur-of-the-moment · inventive · improvisational · riff
extemporaneous
Done without advance preparation
- impromptuWithout advance preparation
- unrehearsedNot practiced beforehand
- remarksSpoken comments or notes
aside · departure · digression · tangent · filler · pivot · recovery · podium · presenter · keynote
comedy
Work meant to amuse
patter · heckler · comeback · one-liner · timing · delivery · stage · audience · host · emcee
scat
Improvised vocal jazz
- soloPerformance by one
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
- riffRepeated musical phrase
vamp · swing · bebop · jam · session · combo · standards · horn · piano · chorus
rap
Quick sharp blow
cypher · emcee · beatbox · wordplay · punchlines · battle · verses · spitting · cadence · kickin
- improvisationimprovised, impromptu, freestyle, improvise, improv
- Quick Decisionssnap judgment, gut feeling, impulse buy, quick pick, on the fly
- spoken linesmemorable line, movie quote, one-liner, catchphrase, tagline
- Spontaneityimpulse, whim, snap decision, sudden urge, on a whim
- spontaneous actsimpulse buy, impulse purchase, whim, sudden urge, snap judgment
- Latin Termsa priori, ab initio, bona fide, circa, ergo
ad libscripted
Written out beforehand
by the book · verbatim · letter-perfect · to the letter · recited
ad libformulaic
Following a set template
rigid · structured · regimented · choreographed · orchestrated
library, ad, liberty, liberate, libel, ad-lib, libation, liberator, lib