lively

adjective

live·​ly ˈlīv-lē How to pronounce lively (audio)
livelier; liveliest
1
: briskly alert and energetic : vigorous, animated
a lively discussion
lively children racing for home
2
: active, intense
takes a lively interest in politics
3
: full of life, movement, or incident
lively streets at carnival time
4
: brilliant, fresh
a lively wit
5
: imparting spirit or vivacity : stimulating
many a peer of England brews livelier liquor than the MuseA. E. Housman
6
: quick to rebound : resilient
a lively ball
7
: responding readily to the helm
a lively boat
8
obsolete : living
livelily adverb
liveliness noun
lively adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for lively

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited.

lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Examples of lively in a Sentence

a very lively writing style The book is lively and well written. They had a lively debate. A lively atmosphere keeps people coming back to the café.
Recent Examples on the Web The vibe is lively — be prepared for the emcees to hit you up for cash donations — and there are prizes and raffles throughout the day, including a trip for two to Ireland, and the chance to have a drink for a wonderful cause. Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The condensed calendar, forced by last year’s dual strikes, could translate to more lively bashes, however, as there’s light at the end of the tunnel with Sunday’s Oscars. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 But with the city's gorgeous Falls Park on the Reedy, a walkable and lively downtown, and the 22-mile Swamp Rabbit Trail connecting major attractions throughout the city, there's really no reason to leave. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Oscar Wars by Michael Schulman In his most recent book, award-winning writer Michael Schulman offers a lively history of the Academy Awards, focusing on the brutal battles, the starry rivalries, and the colorful behind-the-scenes drama of the most famous award ceremony. Anna Tingley, Variety, 5 Mar. 2024 Then, there’s the Goldilocks compromise of Mid-Beach right in between, with a laidback atmosphere by day and a livelier vibe by night. Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 29 Feb. 2024 The lively city of Kramatorsk, which remains under Ukrainian control, has learned to live with the ever-present threat of Russian attack. Claire Harbage, NPR, 24 Feb. 2024 Well structured and lively with heft, flavors of honey and white plumbs. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Stroll to the waterfront and spots like Sparkman Wharf, with a lively beer garden and pop-up restaurants from some of Tampa’s best chefs inside shipping containers. Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English līflīc, from līf life

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8

Time Traveler
The first known use of lively was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lively

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

lively

adjective
live·​ly ˈlīv-lē How to pronounce lively (audio)
livelier; liveliest
1
: full of life : active
a lively puppy
2
: keen entry 1 sense 3
a lively interest
3
: full of spirit or feeling
a lively debate
4
: showing activity or spirit
a lively manner
liveliness noun
lively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on lively

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!