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
Worst loss After crushing road losses at Ole Miss by six points and Memphis by one point, when the Razorbacks had the ball late with a shot to win both games, most expected a lively performance the following week with two-loss Notre Dame coming to town.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
Based on the true story of Jacquotte Delahaye, a 17th-century free woman of color, this book further continues Riley’s literary legacy of creating nuanced and lively characters while teaching the masses about pivotal moments in history.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 30 Dec. 2025
Now, the lively, friendly and affectionate breed thrives on regular exercise and continues to possess a strong and protective nature.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Not to mention the vibrant local neighborhoods that give London its unique character—places like Shoreditch, Soho, Greenwich, and Notting Hill are bursting with quirky shops, lively markets, and authentic experiences, all offering a richer picture of London away from the crowds.
—Rachel Shoemaker, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lively
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Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
Based on the true story of Jacquotte Delahaye, a 17th-century free woman of color, this book further continues Riley’s literary legacy of creating nuanced and lively characters while teaching the masses about pivotal moments in history.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 30 Dec. 2025
Now, the lively, friendly and affectionate breed thrives on regular exercise and continues to possess a strong and protective nature.
—Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Not to mention the vibrant local neighborhoods that give London its unique character—places like Shoreditch, Soho, Greenwich, and Notting Hill are bursting with quirky shops, lively markets, and authentic experiences, all offering a richer picture of London away from the crowds.
—Rachel Shoemaker, Travel + Leisure, 30 Dec. 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 1 Jan. 2026.
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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