Lively
ˈlaɪvli
Definitions
2 meaningsFull of energy and enthusiasm; active.
ˈlaɪvli
Full of life and energy; active and enthusiastic.
The children were lively and excited about the trip to the zoo.
💡 Simply: Imagine a playground where everyone is running around, laughing, and playing games! That's lively! It's like everything has a lot of energy and is fun.
👶 For kids: When something is lively, it's full of fun and energy, like a happy puppy!
More Examples
The music at the concert was very lively, and the audience danced all night.
She has a lively personality and always brings joy to the room.
How It's Used
"The party was very lively."
"The crowd was lively during the soccer match."
Creating a strong and vivid impression or image.
ˈlaɪvli
Producing vivid impressions or images.
The author's descriptions of the market were so lively that I could almost smell the spices.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, a story or picture can be so detailed and interesting that it feels like it's moving! That's what lively means in this case. It makes you feel like you're really there.
👶 For kids: When a picture or story is lively, it's like it jumps off the page and makes you feel like you're right there!
More Examples
The artist used lively brushstrokes to capture the movement of the water.
She wrote a lively account of her adventures in the jungle.
How It's Used
"The author's descriptions were very lively."
"The painter's use of color created a lively effect."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
lively as a cricket
Very active, energetic, and full of life
"After her nap, the baby was lively as a cricket, exploring every corner of the room."
a lively debate
An enthusiastic and animated discussion or argument.
"The town hall meeting turned into a lively debate about the proposed new park."
From Middle English *lifli*, equivalent to 'life' + '-ly'. Related to Old English *līflīc*.
The word 'lively' has been used since the 14th century to describe things full of life and energy.
Memory tip
Think of a lively party - lots of laughter and dancing!