enliven
Americanverb (used with object)
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enlivens,
present (3rd person singular)
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enlivened,
past participle, past
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enlivening
present participle
verb
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to make active, vivacious, or spirited; invigorate
-
to make cheerful or bright; gladden or brighten
Synonym Usage
See cheer.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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enlivenernoun
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enlivenmentnoun
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enliveningadjective
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unenlivenedadjective
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unenliveningadjective
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enliveninglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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enlivensimple
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enlivenssimple
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have enlivenedperfect
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has enlivenedperfect
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am enliveningprogressive
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are enliveningprogressive
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is enliveningprogressive
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have been enliveningperfect progressive
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has been enliveningperfect progressive
Past
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enlivenedsimple
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had enlivenedperfect
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was enliveningprogressive
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were enliveningprogressive
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had been enliveningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of enliven
1625–35; obsolete enlive to give life to ( en- 1 + life ) + -en 1
Explanation
High school students who are throwing a dance in the gym might enliven it with balloons and streamers. In other words, they might try to cheer the room up. When you enliven something, you make it more lively, colorful, or exciting. Your friend who is the life of the party can probably be counted on to enliven the dullest gathering, and a sprinkle of curry powder can enliven a dish of plain roasted vegetables. The original meaning of enliven, from the seventeenth century, was literally "to bring to life," as when a doctor re-starts a patient's stopped heartbeat.
Vocabulary lists containing enliven
The Return of the King
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Encourage
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
No equivalent reunion will enliven our 250th anniversary, but “The Hero Returns,” Richard Brookhiser’s narrative account of Lafayette’s visit and reception, is an excellent substitute.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
Danny Palumbo recommends the best snacks to enliven your cookout.
From Slate ● Sep. 4, 2026
Michaela’s verve for life helps to enliven Francesca, especially after John’s death.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
Herzog said he wanted to tackle the Breuer in part because he believes architects should look to revamp existing historic buildings and enliven what already exists instead of striving to only create from scratch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025
Many words convey subtle shades of meaning, provide glimpses into the history of the language, conform to elegant principles of assembly, or enliven prose with distinctive imagery, sound, and rhythm.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Praising Mr. Corden, our critic said “he enlivens an already lively evening by giving us a peerless example of the fine art of comic acting.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025
Elizabeth Harper’s lighting enlivens the dull palette, but I missed the surreal notes of the South Coast Repertory and Broadway stagings.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2025
A great glaze enrobes and enlivens the meat.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2025
Seattle Pride enlivens the city once again this June during the 49th annual Pride Month celebrations.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 1, 2023
Fleming, seventy- one, a former mayor of Garden City, a short man who enlivens an unsensational appearance with rather conspicuous neckwear, resisted the assignment.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Mercedes' George Russell held off a late challenge from Red Bull's Max Verstappen to win an Azerbaijan Grand Prix enlivened late on by two safety car periods.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
Although Glaser enlivened Sunday’s proceedings, Globes commentators Kevin Frazier and Variety’s red carpet correspondent Marc Malkin were terrible additions.
From Salon ● Jan. 12, 2026
Literature is enlivened as a result, and so, too, is our appreciation of it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025
Henry's "very gregarious" nature enlivened the darker days of last winter in the workshop.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2025
Mrs. Mortimer Merriman and Mrs. James Highcamp, who were there with Alc£e Aro- bin, had joined them and had enlivened the hours in a fashion that warmed him to think of.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
Not surprisingly, massed strings play a defining role, with well-integrated keyboard parts enlivening the musical landscape.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
That’s to say, where rivers are recognised as alive, enlivening presences in story, art and law, rather than –– as Isaac Newton put it –– ‘brute inanimate matter’.
From Salon ● May 28, 2025
Even so, it was a remarkable evening, enlivening orchestra and audience alike and becoming one for the Hollywood Bowl history books.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2024
The blend of gallows humor and gruesome fright is enlivening, casting a strange yet fiendishly compelling spell.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2024
Opposing them were the Plutonists, who noted that volcanoes and earthquakes, among other enlivening agents, continually changed the face of the planet but clearly owed nothing to wayward seas.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
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