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

• stimulate
• jazz (up)
• zip (up)

Examples of liven in a Sentence

He played some music to liven the atmosphere.

Recent Examples on the Web

Whether looking for the perfect writing desk to help draw inspiration or a quirky accessory to liven up a coffee table, there are shops big and small to help. —Olivia Lee, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025

Eli teamed up with the dinner roll brand to launch Football Season-ing, a blend to liven up sliders, dips, pasta salads and other staples. —Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025

This last option is highly recommended for lemon lovers (which includes a lot of us); there are even a few lemon segments to liven this dish up. —Tom Hyland, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

But adding a handful here and there will liven up your recipes in the most amazing way. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 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