verb
liven
LEYE-vuhn
Liven (verb) means to make (or become) more lively, energetic, or interesting — usually followed by "up.". Example: “A bit of music will liven up the party.”
verb
1
To make (or become) more lively, energetic, or interesting — usually followed by "up."
"Let's liven up this party!"
"The fact of this made him realize he had a story. He livened. Father was washed overboard, Rupert said. He was going through the water like a duck."
— Michael Winter, The Big Why: A Novel (2005)
"A bit of music will liven up the party."
"The mood livened as soon as the food arrived."
How to use liven
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo add energy or excitement to something dull.
Common pairings
liven up
liven things up
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- livens
- Past tense
- livened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A bit of music will _____ up the party.
Etymology
From live/life + the suffix -en, "to make"; often felt as a shortened form of enliven.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for liven
See all rhymes for liven →Frequently asked questions
What does “liven” mean?
The word “liven” means to make (or become) more lively, energetic, or interesting — usually followed by "up.". In plain terms, to add energy or excitement to something dull.
How do you pronounce “liven”?
“Liven” is pronounced LEYE-vuhn (/ˈlaɪvən/ in IPA).
How do you use “liven” in a sentence?
Here is “liven” used in a sentence: “A bit of music will liven up the party.”
What part of speech is “liven”?
“Liven” is a verb.
