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
Our editors love livening up their spaces with charming finds, especially for Valentine’s Day.
—Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Pulling the ends on the front pieces in the opposite direction of the hair underneath creates contrast to liven up and add dimension to the classic blunt bob cut.
—Elise Tabin, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
Best Wayfair New Year Super Sale Decor Deals If your home feels bare after packing away holiday knick-knacks, consider adding a decorative touch to liven things up.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
With the majority of New Balance’s 1906L loafer releases thus far using neutral looks with limited pops of color, an upcoming release looks to liven up the model with a mix of shades.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
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Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Pulling the ends on the front pieces in the opposite direction of the hair underneath creates contrast to liven up and add dimension to the classic blunt bob cut.
—Elise Tabin, InStyle, 14 Jan. 2026
Best Wayfair New Year Super Sale Decor Deals If your home feels bare after packing away holiday knick-knacks, consider adding a decorative touch to liven things up.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Jan. 2026
With the majority of New Balance’s 1906L loafer releases thus far using neutral looks with limited pops of color, an upcoming release looks to liven up the model with a mix of shades.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 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 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
liven
verb
liv·en
ˈlī-vən
livened; livening
ˈlīv-(ə-)niŋ
: to make or become lively
—often used with up
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