Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb improvise

2 senses of improvise

Sense 1
improvise, improvize, ad-lib, extemporize, extemporise -- (perform without preparation; "he extemporized a speech at the wedding")
       => perform, execute, do -- (carry out or perform an action; "John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters"; "the skater executed a triple pirouette"; "she did a little dance")

Sense 2
improvise, extemporize -- (manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand; "after the hurricane destroyed our house, we had to improvise for weeks")
       => cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manage -- (come to terms with; "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day")