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
In the mid-nineties, as South Korea’s explosive economic growth began to stagnate, President Kim Young-sam’s Administration made a big bet on the culture industries, passing legislation to help enliven the country’s artistic production.
—Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Best of all, fan favorite and Marvel Defender badass Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) enlivens the action while Vanessa, Fisk’s fascinating soulmate portrayed with a luminosity as well as a pointed edge by Ayelet Zurer, advance the storyline.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The interior features a living room with a fireplace and tangerine-colored seating that enlivens the space.
—Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
Cissy’s tiny and opinionated mother, Adelaide, shared the family’s modest apartment for six enlivening years.
—Miranda Seymour, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enliven
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Mitch Therieau, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Best of all, fan favorite and Marvel Defender badass Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) enlivens the action while Vanessa, Fisk’s fascinating soulmate portrayed with a luminosity as well as a pointed edge by Ayelet Zurer, advance the storyline.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The interior features a living room with a fireplace and tangerine-colored seating that enlivens the space.
—Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026
Cissy’s tiny and opinionated mother, Adelaide, shared the family’s modest apartment for six enlivening years.
—Miranda Seymour, The New York Review of Books, 19 Mar. 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 28 Mar. 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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