Lively — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective adverb /ˈlīv-lē/ live·ly

Meaning & Definition of Lively

Lively (adjective)

  1. briskly alert and energetic, vigorous, animated
  2. active, intense
  3. full of life, movement, or incident

Lively (adverb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. in a quick and spirited manner

    "now then, step lively there"

    similar: airily, animatedly, animately, bouncily, buoyantly, gaily, high-spiritedly, livelily, perkily, pertly, snappily, sparkily, spiritedly, sprightly, trippingly, vivaciously
    related: friskily, gamesomely, playfully, skittishly, sportively, briskly, crisply, effervescently, energetically, jazzily, racily, springily, breezily, cockily, dapperly, dashingly, jauntily, agilely, nimbly, spryly, allegro
    opposite: dully, inanimately, sluggishly, tardily
    near: halfheartedly, idly, indolently, lazily, lethargically, slothfully, heavily, inactively, listlessly, tiredly, wearily

Lively (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having much high-spirited energy and movement

    "the lively puppy was racing around the dining room floor chasing after people's shoelaces"

    similar: active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, on the go
    related: dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake, agile, nimble, spry, bright, buoyant, cheerful, chipper, chirpy, chirrupy, effervescent, sparkly, upbeat, eager, enthusiastic, keen, frolicsome, impish, pixieish, playful, boisterous, bubbly, ebullient, exuberant, high-spirited, high-strung, nervous, skittish
    opposite: dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid
    near: indolent, lazy, unambitious, inert, lethargic, sleepy, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid, boring, dull, irksome, tedious

  2. marked by much life, movement, or activity

    "the party was a lively affair that lasted into the small hours of the morning"

    similar: aboil, abubble, abuzz, alive, animated, astir, brisk, bustling, busy, buzzing, flourishing, happening, hopping, humming, kinetic, rousing, stirring, thriving, vibrant
    related: abounding, crowded, overflowing, populous, swarming, teeming, thronging
    opposite: asleep, dead, inactive, lifeless, sleepy

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Lively

The most common words with a similar meaning to Lively:

airily, animatedly, animately, bouncily, buoyantly, gaily, high-spiritedly, livelily, perkily, pertly, snappily, sparkily, spiritedly, sprightly, trippingly, vivaciously, active, airy, animate, animated, bouncing, brisk, energetic, frisky, gay, jaunty, jazzy, kinetic, mettlesome, peppy, perky, pert, pizzazzy, racy, snappy, spanking, sparky, spirited, springy, vital

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Lively

Words with the opposite meaning of Lively:

dully, inanimately, sluggishly, tardily, dead, inactive, inanimate, lackadaisical, languid, languishing, languorous, leaden, lifeless, limp, listless, spiritless, vapid, asleep, sleepy

Related Words for Lively

friskily, gamesomely, playfully, skittishly, sportively, briskly, crisply, effervescently, energetically, jazzily, racily, springily, breezily, cockily, dapperly, dashingly, jauntily, agilely, nimbly, spryly, allegro, dapper, dashing, spiffy, agog, alert, awake, open-eyed, up, wide-awake

Near Antonyms of Lively

halfheartedly, idly, indolently, lazily, lethargically, slothfully, heavily, inactively, listlessly, tiredly, wearily, indolent, lazy, unambitious, inert, lethargic, sluggish, tired, torpid, weary, apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid, boring, dull, irksome, tedious

Word Forms of Lively

Inflections: livelier, liveliest

Derived words: livelily (adverb), liveliness (noun), lively (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Lively

Middle English, from Old English līflīc, from līf life

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Lively

Words & Phrases Containing Lively

lively imagination, lively interest, look lively, step lively

Frequently Asked Questions about Lively

What does "Lively" mean?

"Lively" means briskly alert and energetic, vigorous, animated. As an an adjective and an adverb, it is defined as: briskly alert and energetic, vigorous, animated. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Lively"?

Other words for "Lively" include airily, animatedly, animately, bouncily, buoyantly, gaily, high-spiritedly and livelily. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Lively" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Lively"?

There are 123 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Lively". Common alternatives include airily, animatedly, animately, bouncily, buoyantly, gaily, high-spiritedly, livelily, perkily and pertly.

What is the opposite of "Lively"?

Antonyms of "Lively" include dully, inanimately, sluggishly, tardily, dead, inactive, inanimate and lackadaisical. Near antonyms include halfheartedly, idly, indolently and lazily.

How do you use "Lively" in a sentence?

Examples of "Lively" in a sentence: "now then, step lively there"; "the lively puppy was racing around the dining room floor chasing after people's shoelaces"; "the party was a lively affair that lasted into the small hours of the morning".

Is "Lively" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Lively" can be used as an adjective and an adverb, depending on the context.

Is "Lively" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Lively" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Lively"?

"Lively" is pronounced /ˈlīv-lē/ and divided into syllables as live·ly.