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
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
Located in the lively South Lamar enclave, Zilker Studios also showcases its designer’s flair for space efficiency.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The popularity of this area is booming, with creatives and entrepreneurs enjoying the proximity to both nature and a lively community.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
Photo by Emily Followill; styled by Yvonne Orchard Led by principals Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos, Williams Papadopoulos Design creates lively and inspired interiors that showcase owners’ unique personalities.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025
Chiesa produced a lively goalscoring cameo at Wembley but has only played 25 minutes of league football this season.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lively
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Jeffrey Steele, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
The popularity of this area is booming, with creatives and entrepreneurs enjoying the proximity to both nature and a lively community.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
Photo by Emily Followill; styled by Yvonne Orchard Led by principals Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos, Williams Papadopoulos Design creates lively and inspired interiors that showcase owners’ unique personalities.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 19 Mar. 2025
Chiesa produced a lively goalscoring cameo at Wembley but has only played 25 minutes of league football this season.
—James Pearce, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lively
Cite this Entry
“Lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lively. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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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