livelier; liveliest
1
: very active and energetic
lively children
a very lively puppy
She has a very lively imagination. [=she imagines many things]
2
: full of energy, excitement, or feeling
a very lively writing style
The book is lively and well written.
They had a lively debate/discussion.
She takes a lively interest in politics. [=she is very interested in politics]
3
: full of movement or activity
lively streets
a lively dance
A lively atmosphere keeps people coming back to the café.
Trading on the stock market today was rather lively. [=active]
Cite this Entry
“Lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/lively. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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