Definition of ENLIVEN

Other Words from enliven

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

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

Offbeat casting decisions enliven Callahan’s otherwise repetitive A.A. meetings, including the reliably odd Udo Kier and marvelous turns from the musicians Beth Ditto of Gossip and Kim Gordon (formerly of Sonic Youth). — Gus Van Sant, New York Times, "Review: Joaquin Phoenix Treks the Long Road to Sobriety in ‘Don’t Worry’," 11 July 2018 Early evening is particularly special, when fairy lights are switched on and a warm, soft light enlivens the place. — Gemma Askham, Condé Nast Traveler, "Gaudí in Barcelona: Our Guide," 3 Mar. 2018 The new downtown is expected to enliven the downtown by attracting more people, development and businesses. — Marci Shatzman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "New Boynton Beach firehouse planned in downtown revamp," 28 June 2018 Listing Price: $199,000 REDSTONE TOWNSHIP, PA A striking checkered floor enlivens the foyer inside this four-bedroom home. — Elizabeth Finkelstein, Country Living, "7 of the Most Charming Stone Houses for Sale," 12 Oct. 2015 Traditional cinematic editing devices — wipes, dissolves, cuts — are produced by the overlapping, moving shapes, further enlivening the geometric imagery. — Christopher Knight, latimes.com, "Artist Olafur Eliasson built a 'Reality projector' of smashing beauty," 2 Mar. 2018 The opening swath is enormously enlivened by an eccentric party-thrower called Peter Charming, one of Gold’s mother’s beaus who becomes something of a paternal force for the young boy. — William Giraldi, The Seattle Times, "Glen David Gold’s new memoir is ‘a soiree of heart-wreck wised up by humor’," 9 July 2018 His design studio consists of a cluster of buildings, some with vaulted roofs, that are enlivened by grassy terraces and reflecting ponds. — Blair Kamin, chicagotribune.com, "In a first for Pritzker Prize, architecture award goes to an Indian architect: Balkrishna Doshi," 7 Mar. 2018 The asada was straightforward, enlivened by a squeeze of simple salsa. — Alex Kiesig, idahostatesman, "'I love this city': Eat your way through the Capital City Public Market," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'enliven.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.