liven

verb

liv·​en ˈlī-vən 

livened; livening ˈlī-və-niŋ 

ˈlīv-niŋ

transitive verb

: enliven

—often used with up

he … livened up the editorial page

—Current Biography

intransitive verb

: to become lively

Synonyms

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

Examples of liven in a Sentence

He played some music to liven the atmosphere.

Recent Examples on the Web

The herb once relegated to savory cooking has begun popping up in cocktails, as more bartenders enlist its unique flavor to liven up recipes. —Kevin Gray, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

The bedrooms also employ dramatic accent walls to liven up the interiors and give each space a distinct character. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 Feb. 2025

San Jose had a glimpse of how these events livened up downtown last year when Levi’s Stadium hosted Copa America games. —Devan Patel, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2025

The combination of the velvet fabric, the captivating shade of green, and the furniture’s soft, curved edges turns the chairs into statement pieces of furniture that instantly draw the eye and liven up the room’s design. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for liven

• ivan
• enliven

Kids Definition

liven

verb

liv·​en ˈlī-vən 

livened; livening ˈlīv-(ə-)niŋ 

: to make or become lively

—often used with up