livened; livening
ˈlī-və-niŋ 
ˈlīv-niŋ
: enliven
—often used with up
… he … livened up the editorial page.—
Current Biography
Current Biography
: to become lively
Examples of liven in a Sentence
He played some music to liven the atmosphere.
Recent Examples on the Web
With a little care, flowering bulbs and other plants can liven up these dreary winter days.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Throttle and transmission shifts have been tweaked for sharper response, while, critically, a series of chassis alterations aim to liven up handling and steering feel.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Kirkton House Propagation Vases Few things liven a space like indoor plants, with their lush, verdant hues and cheery leaf patterns.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The bedrooms also employ dramatic accent walls to liven up the interiors and give each space a distinct character.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liven
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.
Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Throttle and transmission shifts have been tweaked for sharper response, while, critically, a series of chassis alterations aim to liven up handling and steering feel.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Kirkton House Propagation Vases Few things liven a space like indoor plants, with their lush, verdant hues and cheery leaf patterns.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026
The bedrooms also employ dramatic accent walls to liven up the interiors and give each space a distinct character.
—Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for liven
Cite this Entry
“Liven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liven. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liven
verb
liv·en
ˈlī-vən
livened; livening
ˈlīv-(ə-)niŋ
: to make or become lively
—often used with up
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
