impromptu visit meaning

Example sentences impromptu visit

The crown-jewel heist was interrupted by the impromptu visit of the keeper's soldier son who hadn't been home for ten years.

They made impromptu visits to the beach and had jolly outings to pueblos with friends who'd flown out for the weekend.

He has also allocated each deputy national commissioner and divisional commissioner a province to mentor, with them carrying out impromptu visits to ensure proper policing.

Fan websites were also awash with supporters planning impromptu visits, hoping to watch the final on giant screens outside the stadium.

And his father took him on impromptu visits to houses that took his fancy.

Definition of 'impromptu' impromptu

Definition of 'visit' visit

COBUILD Collocations impromptu visit

Browse alphabetically impromptu visit.

• impromptu performance
• impromptu picnic
• impromptu speech
• impromptu visit
• improper accounting
• improper behaviour
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Definition of impromptu adjective from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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[ im- promp -too , -tyoo ]

an impromptu address to the unexpected crowds.

an impromptu dinner.

• improvised; having the character of an improvisation.

verses written impromptu.

• something impromptu; an impromptu speech, musical composition, performance, etc.
• a character piece for piano common in the 19th century and having, despite its title, a clear-cut form.

/ ɪmˈprɒmptjuː /

• unrehearsed; spontaneous; extempore
• produced or done without care or planning; improvised

he spoke impromptu

• something that is impromptu
• a short piece of instrumental music, sometimes improvisatory in character

Discover More

Word history and origins.

Origin of impromptu 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

Choice’s posed portraits are complemented by a quartet of impromptu shots of protesters at odds with police officers.

On Tuesday, the school added an impromptu online class for students interested in the topic, covering hedge fund mechanics and what a short squeeze is.

There are no impromptu lunch outings when people work from home.

The Locksleys and Diggs heard nothing through their impromptu workout, so Diggs headed home.

As they’re lighter than others, it’s easier to pull them out when there’s an impromptu mess to be cleared up.

One guy hams it up as Juliet, blonde wig and all, as a crowd gathers, delighted by the impromptu performance.

The funk legend treats unsuspecting concertgoers to an impromptu show.

On Tuesday, Logan pointed to a stained spot of concrete near two dumpsters where he gave Poindexter impromptu last rites.

Johnson gave an impromptu press conference during Hamer's speech, interrupting her televised testimony.

Kanye repeatedly stopped songs halfway through the opening hook to deliver speeches and start impromptu chants.

Gradually and imperceptibly the interlude melted into the soft opening minor chords of the Chopin Impromptu.

At one end, and acting as interlocutor for this impromptu minstrel show, - 50 -presides one of the best fellows in the world.

Hadria was playing some joyous impromptu, which seemed to express the very spirit of Freedom herself.

The impromptu Bombastes excited universal applause, and just at the end Wright ran in through the lavatory.

When we tired of sitting on deck we went down into the dining salon and slept on benches in impromptu manner.

Related Words

• spontaneous

[ ak -s uh -lot-l ]

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Meaning of impromptu – Learner’s Dictionary

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(Definition of impromptu from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of impromptu

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relating to the scientific study of animals, especially their structure

Dead ringers and peas in pods (Talking about similarities, Part 2)

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Dictionary definition of impromptu

Done or spoken without preparation or advance planning. "The band played an impromptu jam session during their break."

Detailed meaning of impromptu

The word is often used to describe a speech, performance, or other event that is unplanned and spontaneous. For example, an impromptu speech is one that is given without preparation or notes, while an impromptu performance is one that is not rehearsed in advance. The term can also describe a social gathering or event that is put together on short notice. Impromptu can also describe a situation or action that is done on the spur of the moment, or with little forethought. It is often used in contrast to something that is planned or rehearsed, as impromptu implies a level of spontaneity and unpredictability.

Example sentences of impromptu

1. He gave an impromptu speech at the graduation ceremony. 2. She performed an impromptu dance routine for the crowd. 3. He made an impromptu decision to quit his job. 4. The meeting turned into an impromptu brainstorming session. 5. She sang an impromptu song for her friends at the party. 6. He gave an impromptu performance on the street corner.

History and etymology of impromptu

The adjective 'impromptu' has its etymology rooted in French. It is derived from the French word 'impromptu,' which means 'unforeseen' or 'unplanned.' This French term, in turn, traces its origins to the Latin phrase 'in promptu,' where 'in' means 'in' or 'into,' and 'promptu' means 'readiness' or 'prepared.' 'Impromptu' entered the English language in the 17th century and is used to describe something done or spoken without preparation or advance planning. Its etymology underscores the idea of something occurring without prior readiness, as implied by both its French and Latin roots, emphasizing the spontaneous and unanticipated nature of such actions or utterances.

Find the meaning of impromptu

Further usage examples of impromptu.

1. The class had an impromptu pop quiz. 2. She played an impromptu game of chess with her brother. 3. He made an impromptu apology to his friend. 4. The company held an impromptu meeting to discuss new plans. 5. She gave an impromptu talk on current events at the school assembly. 6. The impromptu dance performance at the party amazed everyone with its spontaneity. 7. She gave an impromptu speech that captivated the audience with her eloquence. 8. The impromptu decision to go on a road trip turned out to be a memorable adventure. 9. The impromptu jam session brought together musicians from different backgrounds, creating a unique musical experience. 10. He made an impromptu visit to his friend's house to surprise her on her birthday. 11. The impromptu picnic in the park was a delightful way to enjoy the sunny weather. 12. The impromptu game of charades provided endless laughter and entertainment. 13. She improvised an impromptu recipe using the ingredients she had on hand, and it turned out delicious. 14. The impromptu meeting was called to address the urgent issue that had arisen. 15. The impromptu performance by the street artist gathered a crowd of onlookers who were mesmerized by his talent.

Quiz categories containing impromptu

Multiple Choice

Opposite Words

Same/different

Spelling Bee

extemporaneous,extemporized,unprepared,unrehearsed,unscripted

eb68db_76ee70110d79438caf85605b2fce4c1c.mp3

spontaneous, planned, premeditated, rehearsed

ad-lib,extemporary,improvised,offhand,spontaneous,unplanned

How to Use impromptu in a Sentence

• Two of my friends came by unexpectedly, and we had an impromptu little party in my kitchen.
• He made an impromptu speech about honor and responsibility.

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impromptu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Baby Reindeer' s Ending Explained: What Does It All Mean?

The new Netflix limited series ends with Martha revealing the rationale for her pet name and Donny reaching a full-circle realization

JP Mangalindan is a Senior Writer for TV at PEOPLE. He joined PEOPLE in May 2023. JP's work has previously appeared in publications like Fortune , Business Insider , TechCrunch , GQ , Teen People and Entertainment Weekly.

Ed Miller/Netflix

Warning: This story contains spoilers from the season finale of Netflix's Baby Reindeer .

Baby Reindeer and its ambiguous ending is getting viewers talking.

The new Netflix limited series, which follows a bartender and aspiring comedian (Richard Gadd) relentlessly stalked by a woman (Jessica Gunning), deals with tricky subjects including sexual assault and mental health.

Not only did Gadd create, write and star in the limited series, but it’s based on a true story: Gadd’s true story.

“It’s very emotionally true, obviously: I was severely stalked and severely abused,” he told The Guardian in mid-April. “But we wanted it to exist in the sphere of art, as well as protect the people it’s based on.”

While Gadd’s real-life experiences closely mirrors Baby Reindeer’s plot at times, there are distinct differences, too. Yes, Donny and Martha actually met at a bar, and Donny offered her a free drink. But Gadd made it a point to change the character’s names and identifying details for Martha and Darrien (Tom Goodman-Hill), the successful TV writer who groomed and raped Donny.

There’s also a lot of truth to Martha’s stalking efforts. Over the course of four years, her real-life counterpart called Gadd “baby reindeer” and went on to send him 41,071 emails, 350 hours of voicemail, 744 tweets, 46 Facebook messages and 106 pages of letters.

Though Gadd went to the police about the situation, the authorities weren't much help. The comic said they were skeptical he was being stalked because of the stalker's gender.

“When a man gets stalked, it can be portrayed in films and television as a sexy thing,” he recently told  The Times . “Like a femme fatale who gradually becomes more sinister. It doesn’t carry as much threat of physical violence, is less common and can be trivialized.”

But eventually, Gadd found a silver lining by using his experiences as the basis for his stand-up show Monkey See Monkey Do, which won the Edinburgh comedy award in 2016, and much more recently, through Baby Reindeer.

As the show worked its way to its inevitable conclusion, Martha found Donny’s number and left him a slew of voicemails, which Donny listened to. He decided to hold off on reporting her creepy messages to the police out of “fascination” and “guilt” to keep her “in my life.”

He later visited his parents to discuss the viral video of a recent stand-up performance that became a moving impromptu monologue, in which Donny opened up about his sexual assault and his complex, years-long situation with Martha. Not only were his mom and dad extremely sympathetic, his dad revealed a long-kept secret: that he was also sexually assaulted when he was younger, presumably by a Catholic priest.

In the weeks that followed, Donny spent all his time cooped up in his room until his ex-girlfriend Keeley (Shalom Brune-Franklin) finally checked on him and insisted he move back into her mother’s place, where he previously lived.

But it’s his next move that was a complete surprise: a visit to Darrien at his home where the writer raped him repeatedly. There, Darrien acknowledged that he saw the viral video and it was "really brave" of Donny before offering him a paid writing gig on a show that’s returning for another season.

"It won't be like the last time," Darrien insisted, noting that the gig would be paid. However, he failed to acknowledge his own past actions and the trauma he inflicted on Donny.

The comic agreed to take the job, but after leaving Darrien's home, Donny was visibly distraught by their interaction.

While strolling to a bar, he listened to one of the many voicemails Martha left him in the days before she was arraigned, sentenced to months of jail time and received a five-year restraining order. Donny had spent a lot of time — perhaps too much time — organizing Martha’s voicemails by theme. He landed on several messages marked as “Complimentary”: one gushed about his “great jawline” and overall attractiveness. Another said he had “it," a kind of star quality.

In the final scene at the bar, a deeply pensive Donny ordered a drink and pulled up another voicemail in which Martha finally explained why she started calling him “baby reindeer.” As it turns out, she had a stuffed reindeer growing up with big lips and a “cute bum.”

“It was the only good thing about my childhood,” she explained in the voicemail, before noting that "they" — who viewers can presume are her parents — "fought all the time."

“Well, you are the [spitting image] of that reindeer. The same nose. The same eyes. The same cute wee bum. It means so much to me," Martha added. "You mean so much to me.”

Her words brought Donny to tears as he sat at the bar alone and came to the realization that he and Martha were more alike than he thought after they each unexpectedly brought a form of comfort to the other.

As the scene wound down to a quiet finish, Donny went to pay for his drink but realized he didn't have his wallet. The bartender, seeing that Donny had been crying, said the drink was on the house.

It was a nod to the very beginning of the show when Donny, as a bartender, served Martha a free drink. Only this time, Donny was alone, left with his complicated emotions, hundreds of hours of Martha’s voicemails and lingering memories of a woman who loved him in the most twisted and misguided of ways.

While it becomes clear that kindness can go a long way, the show also drives home the point that the human experience can be messy and painful, and those emotions can't always be completely resolved and neatly tied up with a bow.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

All 7 episodes of Baby Reindeer are available to stream on Netflix.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org .