liven

American

[lahy-vuhn] / ˈlaɪ vən /

verb (used with object)

to put life into; rouse; enliven; cheer (often followed byup ).

What can we do to liven up the party?

verb (used without object)

to become more lively; brighten (usually followed byup ).

If this party doesn't liven up soon, let's leave.

liven British

/ ˈlaɪvən /

verb

(usually foll by up) to make or become lively; enliven

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

livener

noun

Etymology

Origin of liven

First recorded in 1880–85; aphetic variant of enliven

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.

So, I decided to liven the dressing room up and picked on my captain Ryan Shawcross, who - by the way - had been absolutely outstanding that half.

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

Fresh faces with breakout performances can liven things up for you, or you can tune in for the comforts of veterans like Kathy Bates or Harrison Ford.

From Salon • Dec. 20, 2024

A karaoke machine is brought out to liven things up.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2024

Among the opportunities is the company's plan to liven its timer-setting, command-fulfilling Google Assistant with Bard's human-directed suggestions.

From Reuters • Nov. 9, 2023

They did a great deal to liven up the atmosphere of the lab, where experiments usually lasted several months to years.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023