lively

adjective

live·​ly ˈlīv-lē How to pronounce lively (audio)
livelier; liveliest
1
: briskly alert and energetic : vigorous, animated
a lively discussion
lively children racing for home
2
: active, intense
takes a lively interest in politics
3
: full of life, movement, or incident
lively streets at carnival time
4
: brilliant, fresh
a lively wit
5
: imparting spirit or vivacity : stimulating
many a peer of England brews livelier liquor than the MuseA. E. Housman
6
: quick to rebound : resilient
a lively ball
7
: responding readily to the helm
a lively boat
8
obsolete : living
livelily adverb
liveliness noun
lively adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for lively

lively, animated, vivacious, sprightly, gay mean keenly alive and spirited.

lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.

a lively debate on the issues

animated applies to what is spirited and active.

an animated discussion of current events

vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.

a vivacious party host

sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.

a tuneful, sprightly musical

gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.

the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s

Examples of lively in a Sentence

a very lively writing style The book is lively and well written. They had a lively debate. A lively atmosphere keeps people coming back to the café.
Recent Examples on the Web These are simple places, sometimes shacks, but all lively and serving great food cooked by formidable doyens, grandmothers such as Lu. Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024 In the comments, concerned fans voiced love for Simmons and praised him for his lively spirit. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 The groom's post sparked a lively discussion in the comments, with many people expressing their disbelief at the best friend's actions. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Just 30 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), the resort is located in a lively area with art galleries and dining spots. Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 18 Mar. 2024 Adhering to the most basic rock formation, PRS doesn’t buck convention, yet their lively blend of guitar, and bass suggests there are further things to discover in seemingly familiar territory. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2024 As lively as a dead person can get, Morales practically steals the show at times as Zoe. Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024 The vibe is lively — be prepared for the emcees to hit you up for cash donations — and there are prizes and raffles throughout the day, including a trip for two to Ireland, and the chance to have a drink for a wonderful cause. Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The condensed calendar, forced by last year’s dual strikes, could translate to more lively bashes, however, as there’s light at the end of the tunnel with Sunday’s Oscars. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lively.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English līflīc, from līf life

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8

Time Traveler
The first known use of lively was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near lively

Cite this Entry

“Lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lively. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lively

adjective
live·​ly ˈlīv-lē How to pronounce lively (audio)
livelier; liveliest
1
: full of life : active
a lively puppy
2
: keen entry 1 sense 3
a lively interest
3
: full of spirit or feeling
a lively debate
4
: showing activity or spirit
a lively manner
liveliness noun
lively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on lively

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