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
Single, double, and semi-double petals liven up the garden in pink, red, purple, yellow, orange, and variegated hues.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
This quilt is the perfect choice to liven up your bedroom.
—Caley Sturgill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
An Art Deco scarf like the Egyptian assuit ones beloved by Eisner could liven up an all-black outfit.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
The tweeters' brilliance helps liven up the cymbals.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 2026
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Patricia S York, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026
This quilt is the perfect choice to liven up your bedroom.
—Caley Sturgill, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
An Art Deco scarf like the Egyptian assuit ones beloved by Eisner could liven up an all-black outfit.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 28 Apr. 2026
The tweeters' brilliance helps liven up the cymbals.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 1 Apr. 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 1 May. 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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