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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Both the jitterbug and Lindy Hop (which is often referred to as the granddaddy of the swing era dances) are lively, energetic swing dances that involve quick spins, sharp footwork and pure joy between a pair to a booming live band playing. Alexa Stone updated October 21, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2025 So seeing historically lively neighborhoods silent during cultural events out of fear of ICE is heartbreaking. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025 Production values are aces with dynamic, gritty sets; light ing that makes the movie take place in a perpetual twilight; and a lively, nerve-jangling score. Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025 Reddit reacts The post sparked a lively discussion among Redditors, with many sharing their own stories of cash-handling confusion. Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lively

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lively. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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

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