Standard Lemma guide

enliven

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɛnˈlaɪvən/
  • rhymes with -aɪvən
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: EH0 N L AY1 V AH0 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To give life or spirit to; to revive or animate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inspirit, invigorate, quicken, vitalise, vivify

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make more lively, cheerful or interesting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The game was much enlivened when both teams scored within five minutes of each other.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cheer up, liven, liven up, quicken

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

make lively

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • let's liven up this room a bit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: liven, liven up, invigorate, animate

Antonyms: deaden

Broader terms: stimulate, arouse, brace, energize, energise, perk up

Narrower terms: jazz up, juice up, pep up, ginger up, spirit, spirit up, inspirit

4

verb

Meaning 4

heighten or intensify

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • These paintings exalt the imagination

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inspire, animate, invigorate, exalt

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stimulate, shake, shake up, excite, stir

Narrower terms: encourage

History

Etymology

From life + en- -en (intensifying verbal circumfix). See liven.

Across languages

Translations

22 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: оживявам (oživjavam) — to make more lively
  • Bulgarian: съживявам (sǎživjavam) — to make more lively
  • Czech: oživit — to make more lively
  • Finnish: elävöittää — to make more lively
  • Finnish: vilkastuttaa — to make more lively
  • Galician: arrizar — to make more lively
  • Galician: avivar — to make more lively
  • Irish: beoigh — to make more lively
  • Kabuverdianu: anima — to make more lively
  • Kabuverdianu: animá — to make more lively
  • Māori: whakawana — to make more lively
  • Māori: whakahihiko — to make more lively
  • Māori: whakahari — to make more lively
  • Portuguese: avivar — to make more lively
  • Romanian: înviora — to make more lively
  • Russian: оживля́ть (oživljátʹ) — to make more lively
  • Russian: оживи́ть (oživítʹ) — to make more lively
  • Scottish Gaelic: beothaich — to make more lively
  • Spanish: avivar — to make more lively
  • Spanish: amenizar — to make more lively
  • Spanish: animar — to make more lively
  • Swedish: liva upp — to make more lively