enliven
verb
en·liv·en in-ˈlī-vən 
en-
enlivened; enlivening; enlivens
transitive verb
: to give life, action, or spirit to : animate
fresh flowers enliven the room
enlivenment
in-ˈlī-vən-mənt
noun en-
plural enlivenments
But for the formation of opinion, for the stirring and enlivenment of thought, and for the discernment of colour and proportion, the gifts of travel … are priceless 
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill 
Synonyms
- amp (up)
- animate
- brace
- energize
- fillip
- fire
- ginger (up)
- invigorate
- jazz (up)
- juice up
- jump-start
- liven (up)
- pep (up)
- quicken
- spike
- stimulate
- vitalize
- vivify
- zip (up)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He enlivened his speech with a few jokes. a soup enlivened by chili peppers A few touches of color will enliven the room.
Recent Examples on the Web The hope for the project, Coleman said, is to enliven the children's play area and attract people to come enjoy the artwork and take selfies and photos. Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 2022 Pops of color enliven the gray-and-white wallpaper design, while a white built-in and a comfy gray couch ground the room. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2022 Anders’ girlfriend, Oona, a yoga instructor, who is already feeling emotionally tapped out after the recent death of her twin brother and the strain of caring for her unhinged mother, doesn’t enliven matters with her own subdued reactions. Heller Mcalpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2022 Global Arts Live hoped to enliven the January post-holiday lull this year with a Winter Dance Fest spanning consecutive Saturday nights; COVID numbers, though, led them to postpone. Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 Resin Cuffs Make Iris Apfel proud and enliven your wrists with a stack of bold resin cuffs. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2022 Danielle Brown as La Capricciosa and Ricardo Rhodes as Lo Straniero did their best to enliven these tired stereotypes. Robert Greskovic, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Now and Entertainment News teams, is helping accelerate and enliven Times coverage with swift, smart and robust responses to breaking news and trending topics. Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 The lanterns and tiered plants enliven it even further. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 3 July 2022 See More
Sofia Krusmark, The Arizona Republic, 20 July 2022 Pops of color enliven the gray-and-white wallpaper design, while a white built-in and a comfy gray couch ground the room. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Aug. 2022 Anders’ girlfriend, Oona, a yoga instructor, who is already feeling emotionally tapped out after the recent death of her twin brother and the strain of caring for her unhinged mother, doesn’t enliven matters with her own subdued reactions. Heller Mcalpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2022 Global Arts Live hoped to enliven the January post-holiday lull this year with a Winter Dance Fest spanning consecutive Saturday nights; COVID numbers, though, led them to postpone. Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, 26 May 2022 Resin Cuffs Make Iris Apfel proud and enliven your wrists with a stack of bold resin cuffs. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2022 Danielle Brown as La Capricciosa and Ricardo Rhodes as Lo Straniero did their best to enliven these tired stereotypes. Robert Greskovic, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Now and Entertainment News teams, is helping accelerate and enliven Times coverage with swift, smart and robust responses to breaking news and trending topics. Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2022 The lanterns and tiered plants enliven it even further. Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 3 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1604, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
enliven
verb
en·liv·en in-ˈlī-vən
enlivened; enlivening
: to put life or spirit into
Games enlivened the party.
enliven
verb
as in to stimulate
to give life, vigor, or spirit to in most instances it's a good idea to enliven a speech with a joke or two Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stimulate
- invigorate
- arouse
- energize
- animate
- vitalize
- vivify
- electrify
- stir
- awaken
- inspire
- provoke
- excite
- quicken
- activate
- revive
- cheer
- strengthen
- motivate
- recreate
- spark
- drive
- fillip
- rouse
- fire
- jump-start
- propel
- lift
- brace
- spike
- trigger
- awake
- motive
- boost
- raise
- rally
- charge
- refresh
- juice up
- resurrect
- move
- impel
- pep (up)
- liven (up)
- galvanize
- zip (up)
- renew
- jazz (up)
- infuse
- amp (up)
- reinvigorate
- incite
- actuate
- revitalize
- ginger (up)
- embolden
- inflame
- foment
- rejuvenate
- fortify
- enkindle
- instigate
- hearten
- buoy
- reawaken
- set off
- rekindle
- reenergize
- ferment
- regenerate
- reactivate
- kindle
- reanimate
- abet
- resuscitate
- enflame
- recharge
- steel
- turn on
- refreshen
- wake (up)
- restimulate
- whip (up)
- reawake
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dull
- dampen
- deaden
- undermine
- kill
- weaken
- damp
- enervate
- harass
- weary
- debilitate
- wear
- drain
- enfeeble
- restrain
- inhibit
- exhaust
- slow
- suppress
- knock out
- sap
- curb
- fatigue
- wear out
- check
- quell
- quench
- repress
- discourage
- wash out
- tucker (out)
- still
- stunt
- burn out
- daunt
- demoralize
- dishearten
- jade
- fag
- kayo
- dispirit
- do in
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of enliven are animate, quicken, and vivify. While all these words mean "to make alive or lively," enliven suggests a stimulus that arouses from dullness or torpidity.
enlivened her lectures with humorous anecdotes
While in some cases nearly identical to enliven, animate emphasizes the imparting of motion or vitality to what is or might be mechanical or artificial.
happiness animated his conversation
In some situations, the words quicken and enliven are roughly equivalent. However, quicken stresses a sudden renewal of life or activity especially in something inert.
the arrival of spring quickens the earth
The meanings of vivify and enliven largely overlap; however, vivify implies a freshening or energizing through renewal of vitality.
new blood needed to vivify the dying club