enliven

verb

en·​liv·​en in-ˈlī-vən How to pronounce enliven (audio)
en-
enlivened; enlivening; enlivens

transitive verb

: to give life, action, or spirit to : animate
fresh flowers enliven the room
enlivenment 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
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 Everett enjoys catching fish but is equally enlivened by the process of mimicking their prey. Maya Binyam, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Contemporary art enlivens the public spaces, but much of the hotel’s success is due to fabulous general manager Giorgia Tozzi, a ray of sunshine who ensures that everything runs smoothly. Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2024 Smaller in scale to his genre efforts, this new German-language drama looks closer in feel to his 2010 effort 3, telling the story of a dysfunctional middle-class family whose world is disrupted and enlivened when a new housekeeper, Farrah (Tala al Deen), from Syria, enters their lives. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Feb. 2024 Booth said she has been impressed by Parker’s continued commitment to enlivening her town. Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 18 Dec. 2023 The blend creates a warm harmony that’s sure to enliven any room. Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2024 Here, that means praising Yeardley Smith for enlivening the Split outing with some impressively varied voice acting (and for belting out a song). Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2023 Our affable captain shared his encyclopedic knowledge of the lake’s history and the thriving community that enlivens its shores. Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2024 Carpet tiles are a modern, ingenious way to outfit a space, and these boast a Turkish-style pattern that would enliven just about any home. Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enliven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of enliven was in 1604

Dictionary Entries Near enliven

Cite this Entry

“Enliven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enliven. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enliven

verb
en·​liv·​en in-ˈlī-vən How to pronounce enliven (audio)
: to give life, action, or spirit to : animate
enliven the party with dance music

More from Merriam-Webster on enliven

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