enliven
verb
en·liv·en
in-ˈlī-vən 
en-
enlivened; enlivening; enlivens
: to give life, action, or spirit to : animate
fresh flowers enliven the room
enlivenment
in-ˈlī-vən-mənt
noun
en-
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
Winston Churchill
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
Swiss menu options are also available in the lobby lounge, and a weekly DJ enlivens the mood at Onyx Bar (so-named for the illuminated surface that makes up the bar itself).
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Rather, the facts ground the fiction, the fiction enlivens the facts, and both work together to suggest that the pursuit of resurrecting the past and the pursuit of telling a good story can, in some cases, be one and the same.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Pete Crow-Armstrong then enlivened the dugout in the ninth with a nifty headfirst slide and swim move to avoid the tag as the Pirates played the infield in.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
For naturemaxxing, that means a desire to create surroundings that are enlivened with plants, layered green spaces, and outdoor views, says Andrews.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for enliven
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Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Rather, the facts ground the fiction, the fiction enlivens the facts, and both work together to suggest that the pursuit of resurrecting the past and the pursuit of telling a good story can, in some cases, be one and the same.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Pete Crow-Armstrong then enlivened the dugout in the ninth with a nifty headfirst slide and swim move to avoid the tag as the Pirates played the infield in.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
For naturemaxxing, that means a desire to create surroundings that are enlivened with plants, layered green spaces, and outdoor views, says Andrews.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for enliven
Cite this Entry
“Enliven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enliven. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enliven
verb
en·liv·en
in-ˈlī-vən
: to give life, action, or spirit to : animate
enliven the party with dance music
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