lively
adjective
live·ly ˈlīv-lē 
livelier; liveliest
1
: briskly alert and energetic : vigorous, animated
a lively discussion
lively children racing for home
2
: active, intense
takes a lively interest in politics
3
: full of life, movement, or incident
lively streets at carnival time
4
: brilliant, fresh
a lively wit
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
livelily
ˈlīv-lə-lē
adverb liveliness
ˈlīv-lē-nəs
noun lively adverb
Synonyms
- active
- airy
- animate
- animated
- bouncing
- brisk
- energetic
- frisky
- gay
- jaunty
- jazzy
- kinetic
- mettlesome
- peppy
- perky
- pert
- pizzazzy
- pizazzy
- racy
- snappy
- spanking
- sparky
- spirited
- sprightly
- springy
- vital
- vivacious
- zippy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Here, bright blues and shades of coral keep the living room lively and fun. Grace Gallagher, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2022 Round and mouth filling but with a sharp acid streak to keep it lively. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 29 June 2022 Dinner-table conversations about politics were lively and frequent, said Marion Bestani, her youngest sister. James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Even at default contrast settings, the monitor hit 1,873:1 and showed image quality that was noticeably more lively than a typical IPS monitor. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2022 More than 50 metro Detroit residents and politicians took part in a lively public comment period at the council chambers in Pontiac. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2022 Despite the somber topic, the crowd Saturday afternoon was lively, participating in chants, making posters and conversing with one another over tacos after the speakers concluded. Daedan Olander, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Over the past decade, Sanford has created a lively downtown that draws visitors from around the region by investing millions of dollars in streetscaping projects and incentives to lure in new restaurants, microbreweries and events. Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2022 Cabo San Lucas has a reputation for its nightlife and lively downtown. Lauren Beale, Forbes, 28 May 2022 See More
Grace Gallagher, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2022 Round and mouth filling but with a sharp acid streak to keep it lively. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 29 June 2022 Dinner-table conversations about politics were lively and frequent, said Marion Bestani, her youngest sister. James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Even at default contrast settings, the monitor hit 1,873:1 and showed image quality that was noticeably more lively than a typical IPS monitor. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2022 More than 50 metro Detroit residents and politicians took part in a lively public comment period at the council chambers in Pontiac. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2022 Despite the somber topic, the crowd Saturday afternoon was lively, participating in chants, making posters and conversing with one another over tacos after the speakers concluded. Daedan Olander, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Over the past decade, Sanford has created a lively downtown that draws visitors from around the region by investing millions of dollars in streetscaping projects and incentives to lure in new restaurants, microbreweries and events. Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2022 Cabo San Lucas has a reputation for its nightlife and lively downtown. Lauren Beale, Forbes, 28 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English līflīc, from līf life
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8
Phrases Containing lively
Kids Definition
lively
adjective
live·ly ˈlīv-lē
livelier; liveliest
1
: full of life : active
a lively puppy
2
: showing or resulting from active thought
a lively imagination
3
: full of spirit or feeling : animated
lively music
lively 1 of 2
adverb
as in animately
in a quick and spirited manner now then, step lively there Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- animately
- sprightly
- playfully
- vivaciously
- energetically
- buoyantly
- spiritedly
- bouncily
- animatedly
- pertly
- trippingly
- airily
- perkily
- livelily
- gayly
- allegro
- snappily
- briskly
- gaily
- crisply
- effervescently
- sportively
- sparkily
- dashingly
- jazzily
- high-spiritedly
- breezily
- friskily
- jauntily
- racily
- springily
- agilely
- skittishly
- spryly
- dapperly
- gamesomely
- cockily
- nimbly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sluggishly
- dully
- heavily
- inanimately
- tardily
- lazily
- lethargically
- idly
- indolently
- listlessly
- wearily
- slothfully
- halfheartedly
- tiredly
- inactively
lively
2 of 2adjective
1
as in animated
having much high-spirited energy and movement the lively puppy was racing around the dining room floor chasing after people's shoelaces Synonyms & Similar Words
- animated
- energetic
- active
- animate
- brisk
- spirited
- bouncing
- cheerful
- vivacious
- enthusiastic
- sprightly
- playful
- awake
- jaunty
- racy
- peppy
- perky
- sparky
- jazzy
- zippy
- springy
- frisky
- pert
- snappy
- kinetic
- airy
- spanking
- bright
- vital
- mettlesome
- gay
- agile
- up
- dashing
- eager
- buoyant
- spry
- effervescent
- pizazzy
- upbeat
- dapper
- nimble
- boisterous
- pizzazzy
- exuberant
- spiffy
- chipper
- chirpy
- on the go
- bubbly
- frolicsome
- sparkly
- alert
- ebullient
- keen
- impish
- wide-awake
- nervous
- agog
- open-eyed
- high-spirited
- skittish
- pixieish
- chirrupy
- high-strung
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- languid
- listless
- leaden
- lifeless
- limp
- vapid
- dead
- inactive
- spiritless
- inanimate
- languishing
- weary
- lackadaisical
- sleepy
- inert
- indolent
- sluggish
- lazy
- tired
- stolid
- torpid
- languorous
- lethargic
- dull
- unambitious
- boring
- phlegmatic
- apathetic
- impassive
- tedious
- irksome
2
as in vibrant
marked by much life, movement, or activity the party was a lively affair that lasted into the small hours of the morning Synonyms & Similar Words
- vibrant
- buzzing
- busy
- thriving
- crowded
- humming
- bustling
- animated
- brisk
- populous
- rousing
- flourishing
- astir
- kinetic
- stirring
- alive
- happening
- hopping
- abuzz
- aboil
- teeming
- abubble
- swarming
- abounding
- thronging
- overflowing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sleepy
- dead
- lifeless
- inactive
- asleep
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of lively are animated, gay, sprightly, and vivacious. While all these words mean "keenly alive and spirited," lively suggests briskness, alertness, or energy.
a lively debate on the issues
The synonyms animated and lively are sometimes interchangeable, but animated applies to what is spirited and active.
an animated discussion of current events
The meanings of gay and lively largely overlap; however, gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.
the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s
The words sprightly and lively are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.
a tuneful, sprightly musical
Although the words vivacious and lively have much in common, vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.
a vivacious party host
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