Word
liven
Phoneticsliv·en, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫaɪvən/
UK/lˈaɪvn/
Definition
v. to make something more fun, bright, or interesting. You use it when a place, event, or talk feels dull and needs more life.
v. to make or become more lively, cheerful, or interesting. Often paired with the particle 'up'.
Examples
“She livens up the room with bright pictures.”
“He tells jokes to liven up the long meeting.”
“The new lights and music liven the old hall, turning a dull evening into a warm celebration.”
Examples
simple
“She livens up the room with bright pictures.”
contextual
“He tells jokes to liven up the long meeting.”
complex
“The new lights and music liven the old hall, turning a dull evening into a warm celebration.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “liven” in context.
Verb
01. help liven up
“A few posters will help liven up the classroom walls.”
verb + verb + particle
02. liven up atmosphere
“Fairy lights livened up the atmosphere in the garden.”
verb + particle + noun
03. liven up conversation
“He told a funny story to liven up the conversation.”
verb + particle + noun
04. liven up evening
“A quiz night would liven up the evening.”
verb + particle + noun
05. liven up party
“They hired a DJ to liven up the party.”
verb + particle + noun
06. liven up room
“A coat of yellow paint will liven up the room.”
verb + particle + noun
Adjective
07. greatly liven up
“Bright cushions would greatly liven up this grey living room.”
adv + verb + particle
08. instantly liven up
“Some background music instantly livened up the waiting room.”
adv + verb + particle
Noun
09. colour liven up
“A splash of colour livens up the dull office.”
noun + verb + particle
10. humour liven up
“Her dry humour livens up every staff meeting.”
noun + verb + particle
11. help liven up the evening
“A comedy act helped liven up the evening for everyone.”
12. liven up a dull room
“Plants are a cheap way to liven up a dull room.”
Usage
Often pairs with 'up' ('liven up'); can be transitive with an object or intransitive without one.
Etymology
Partly from life + -en; partly from live (adjective) + -en; and partly a shortening of enliven. Cognate with Norwegian Nynorsk livna (“to quicken, come alive”), Faroese livna (“to come to life, come alive”), Icelandic lifna (“to come to life”).
From Middle English liven, equivalent to live + -en.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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