verb
liven
LEYE-vuhn
verb
1
To make (or become) more lively, energetic, or interesting — usually followed by "up."
"A bit of music will liven up the party."
"The mood livened as soon as the food arrived."
How to Use Liven
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo add energy or excitement to something dull.
Common pairings
liven up
liven things up
Word Forms
livened past tense, livens singular
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A bit of music will _____ up the party.
Etymology
From live/life + the suffix -en, "to make"; often felt as a shortened form of enliven.