livelier; liveliest
1
3
: full of life, movement, or incident
lively streets at carnival time
5
: imparting spirit or vivacity : stimulating
many a peer of England brews livelier liquor than the Muse—
A. E. Housman
A. E. Housman6
: quick to rebound : resilient
a lively ball
7
: responding readily to the helm
a lively boat
8
obsolete
: living
Synonyms
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
An ensemble two or three times the size (easy for film, impossible for Broadway) would’ve filled out the stage more effectively; that said, Dominique Kelley’s lively choreography mostly covers this up.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara $34 Violet Grey
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Victoria Beckham Beauty
Long lashes are the perfect cheeky compliment to your lively blush.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 25 Apr. 2024
And with no further ado, a big warm thank you to our hosts for a lively afternoon at the Grand Seiko Boutique on Madison Avenue and 54th Street.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
Dining highlights include the excellent buffet with a separate kids section for comfort classics like chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks, a coffee and gelato shop that serves up refreshing sweet treats, and a lively hibachi eatery where singing and dancing are very encouraged.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2024
Playing up her statement bag, Lipa added some lively accessories to her grayscale look.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
Prior to April 20, 1999, 14-year-old Missy Mendo looked forward to a typical freshman year at high school, complete with lively homecoming dances and cheerful sports games.
—Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Railroad Square offers a dynamic and inclusive space for the community to engage with contemporary art, fostering a lively cultural scene in the heart of Tallahassee with its monthly First Friday Gallery Hop and a range of local events.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The destination’s popularity is no shocker, really—Ciudad de México (CDMX) is one of the world’s greatest epicenters of culture, with architectural masterpieces, innovative cuisine, and a lively art scene that all contribute to the tapestry of the capital’s rich history.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Christian Lewis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Victoria Beckham Beauty Vast Lash Mascara $34 Violet Grey
$34
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Long lashes are the perfect cheeky compliment to your lively blush.
—Loren Savini, Allure, 25 Apr. 2024
And with no further ado, a big warm thank you to our hosts for a lively afternoon at the Grand Seiko Boutique on Madison Avenue and 54th Street.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 25 Apr. 2024
Dining highlights include the excellent buffet with a separate kids section for comfort classics like chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks, a coffee and gelato shop that serves up refreshing sweet treats, and a lively hibachi eatery where singing and dancing are very encouraged.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2024
Playing up her statement bag, Lipa added some lively accessories to her grayscale look.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024
Prior to April 20, 1999, 14-year-old Missy Mendo looked forward to a typical freshman year at high school, complete with lively homecoming dances and cheerful sports games.
—Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
Railroad Square offers a dynamic and inclusive space for the community to engage with contemporary art, fostering a lively cultural scene in the heart of Tallahassee with its monthly First Friday Gallery Hop and a range of local events.
—Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2024
The destination’s popularity is no shocker, really—Ciudad de México (CDMX) is one of the world’s greatest epicenters of culture, with architectural masterpieces, innovative cuisine, and a lively art scene that all contribute to the tapestry of the capital’s rich history.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Apr. 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.
Dictionary Entries Near lively
Cite this Entry
“Lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lively. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lively
adjective
live·ly
ˈlīv-lē 
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
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