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
The lively restaurant, a tribute to British photographer and tastemaker Cecil Beaton, strikes a delicate balance between elegance and whimsy.
—Julie Tremaine, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
Created by Liz Heldens (Will Trent) and Matt Ward (Best Medicine), and set to kick off production in Los Angeles this year, the new series follows Heidi (Banks), who while fresh off a messy divorce, sets out to secure a lively second act for herself and her kids.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 May 2026
The island's sole town is a lively port with shops, bars, and restaurants, while a short bridge connects it to Caprera, home to Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi's former residence and pristine beaches.
—Nicky Swallow, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
Pampelonne Beach remains as breathtaking and lively as ever.
—Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lively
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Julie Tremaine, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
Created by Liz Heldens (Will Trent) and Matt Ward (Best Medicine), and set to kick off production in Los Angeles this year, the new series follows Heidi (Banks), who while fresh off a messy divorce, sets out to secure a lively second act for herself and her kids.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 May 2026
The island's sole town is a lively port with shops, bars, and restaurants, while a short bridge connects it to Caprera, home to Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi's former residence and pristine beaches.
—Nicky Swallow, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2026
Pampelonne Beach remains as breathtaking and lively as ever.
—Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lively
Cite this Entry
“Lively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lively. Accessed 20 May. 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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