liven

verb

liv·​en ˈlī-vən 

livened; livening ˈlī-və-niŋ 

ˈlīv-niŋ

transitive verb

: enliven

—often used with up

… he … livened up the editorial page.

—Current Biography

intransitive verb

: to become lively

Synonyms of liven

• stimulate
• jazz (up)
• zip (up)

Examples of liven in a Sentence

He played some music to liven the atmosphere.

Recent Examples on the Web

Reflective details liven up the Lightning McQueen look, while the car’s signature number 95 is printed on both the lateral and medial sides. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026

Amazon has plenty of budget-friendly styles that’ll liven up your closet just in time for the cooler months ahead. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026

Pair it with warm wood furniture and light throw blankets for a coastal design, or use it to contrast colorful accents for a vibrant combination that can liven up a neutral living room. — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026

Alexander livened up the more traditional architectural elements with a Stahl + Band sectional upholstered with a velvet Larsen fabric inspired by textiles from Cameroon. — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for liven

• ivan
• enliven

Kids Definition

liven

verb

liv·​en ˈlī-vən 

livened; livening ˈlīv-(ə-)niŋ 

: to make or become lively

—often used with up