briskly alert, active, and energetic
done or conducted with energy or, vigour, or emotional intensity
a lively debate
full of life, movement, or incident
a lively scene
a lively description
intellectually active or, perceptive, and questioning
lively minds
moving with speed and force, often in unpredictable ways
a lively sea
said of a pitch or playing surface: causing sharp unpredictable movements of the ball
said of a boat: responsive to the helm and exciting to sail
Brit, humorous full of possibly disagreeable or dangerous consequences
We were given a lively time by enemy artillery
livelily adv
liveliness noun
[Old English līflīc, from līf life]