liven

liv·en | \ ˈlī-vən

How to pronounce liven (audio)

\

livened; livening\ ˈlī-və-niŋ

How to pronounce livening (audio)

, ˈlīv-niŋ \

Definition of liven

transitive verb

: enliven —often used with uphe … livened up the editorial page — Current Biography

intransitive verb

: to become lively

Examples of liven in a Sentence

He played some music to liven the atmosphere.

Recent Examples on the Web Some parents want to bring in coaches or other experts to liven up days that already have started to feel routine — but is that safe? — Constance Sommer, Washington Post, "Summer ‘camp’ with the neighborhood teens. Is it worth the risk?," 2 July 2020 How to Use Tajín Seasoning Originally created to liven up fruits and veggies just by sprinkling it on, Tajín is used as an all-purpose seasoning for all kinds of dishes. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, "Tajín Seasoning Is the Perfect Zesty Spice to Add to Your Pantry," 24 June 2020 Teams have tried to liven up the atmosphere for players with tactics like cardboard cutouts of fans in the seats. — Katie Deighton, WSJ, "TV Sports Executives Warm to Canned Crowd Noise, but Give Viewers an Out," 17 June 2020 To lure wary shoppers back, the upscale department store Selfridges has lined up street performers to entertain anyone queuing, while DJs will play music inside to liven things up. — Time, "British Shoppers Form Long Lines as Retail Stores Reopened," 15 June 2020 Stickers: As part of its long-term quest to find broad appeal, Signal recently added a limited selection of stickers to liven up your secret chats. — Brian Barrett, Wired, "How to Get the Most Out of Signal and Private Messaging," 6 June 2020 Sesame seeds, pepitas, peanuts, toasted chiles, and oils like hazelnut and almond are livening up everything from tacos to crudité. — Sunset Magazine, "Go Nuts with These Tomato-Less, Protein-Packed Salsas," 16 Apr. 2020 Ripe Texas strawberries give one a burst of fresh fruit, while the unique taste and aroma of elderflower liqueur liven up another. — Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, "Cinco de Mayo at home: Celebrate with 9 easy Mexican-inspired dishes and margaritas," 29 Apr. 2020 And his attempts to liven up the fans on virtual television fell flat. — oregonlive, "NFL draft 2020: 12 winners and losers following Day 1," 24 Apr. 2020

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

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Dictionary Entries near liven

lively imagination

lively interest

Statistics for liven

Last Updated

11 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Liven.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liven. Accessed 11 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for liven

liven

verb

English Language Learners Definition of liven

: to make (something) more lively, interesting, or exciting

: to become more lively, interesting, or exciting

See the full definition for liven in the English Language Learners Dictionary

liven

liv·en | \ ˈlī-vən

\

livened; livening

Kids Definition of liven

: to make or become lively

Hint: Liven is often used with up. He knows how to liven up a meeting.

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