enliven

verb

en·​liv·​en in-ˈlī-vən 

en-

enlivened; enlivening; enlivens

transitive verb

: to give life, action, or spirit to : animate

fresh flowers enliven the room

enlivenment

in-ˈlī-vən-mənt 

en-

noun

plural enlivenments

But for the formation of opinion, for the stirring and enlivenment of thought, and for the discernment of colour and proportion, the gifts of travel … are priceless

—Winston Churchill

Synonyms

• amp (up)
• animate
• brace
• energize
• fillip
• fire
• ginger (up)
• invigorate
• jazz (up)
• juice up
• jump-start
• liven (up)
• pep (up)
• quicken
• spike
• stimulate
• vitalize
• vivify
• zip (up)

Choose the Right Synonym for enliven

quicken, animate, enliven, vivify mean to make alive or lively.

quicken stresses a sudden renewal of life or activity especially in something inert.

the arrival of spring quickens the earth

animate emphasizes the imparting of motion or vitality to what is or might be mechanical or artificial.

happiness animated his conversation

enliven suggests a stimulus that arouses from dullness or torpidity.

enlivened her lectures with humorous anecdotes

vivify implies a freshening or energizing through renewal of vitality.

new blood needed to vivify the dying club

Examples of enliven in a Sentence

He enlivened his speech with a few jokes.

a soup enlivened by chili peppers

A few touches of color will enliven the room.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tips for the Best Rotisserie Chicken Soup Add lemon: Our Test Kitchen Professionals recommend adding a squeeze of lemon at the end, which can help to enliven the flavor, especially if eating it after being frozen. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Nov. 2024

Red apple as a top note gives it a fruity crispness—enlivening its wearer til the floral notes take hold. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024

Kmet’s usage in Houston will now fold into the evaluation of how well new coordinator Shane Waldron can find improvements in Game 2 to enliven an offense that managed just 148 total yards in the opener while averaging 2.8 yards per play, the worst output of any team in Week 1. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2024

Musicians across Mexico enliven this time with their drums, trumpets, guitars and accordions, joyfully remembering those who have passed. —Shivani Vora, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

enliven

verb

en·​liv·​en in-ˈlī-vən 

: to give life, action, or spirit to : animate

enliven the party with dance music