LIVELY (livelier, liveliest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: livelier    , liveliest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lively mean? 

• LIVELY (adjective)
  The adjective LIVELY has 6 senses:

1. full of life and energy

2. full of zest or vigor

3. quick and energetic

4. elastic; rebounds readily

5. filled with events or activity

6. full of spirit; full of life

  Familiarity information: LIVELY used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LIVELY (adjective)

Comparative: livelier   
Superlative: liveliest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Full of life and energy

Context example:

a lively party

Similar:

bubbling; effervescent; frothy; scintillating; sparkly (marked by high spirits or excitement)

warm (characterized by liveliness or excitement or disagreement)

live (abounding with life and energy)

burbling; burbly; effusive; gushing (uttered with unrestrained enthusiasm)

bubbly (full of or showing high spirits)

breezy (fresh and animated)

bouncing; bouncy; peppy; spirited; zippy (marked by lively action)

alive ((often followed by 'with') full of life and spirit)

Also:

alive; animated (having life or vigor or spirit)

alert; watchful (engaged in or accustomed to close observation)

energetic (possessing or exerting or displaying energy)

spirited (displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness)

rested (not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing)

Attribute:

life; liveliness; spirit; sprightliness (animation and energy in action or expression)

Antonym:

dull (lacking in liveliness or animation)

Derivation:

liveliness (general activity and motion)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Full of zest or vigor

Synonyms:

lively; racy

Context example:

a racy literary style

Similar:

spirited (displaying animation, vigor, or liveliness)

Derivation:

liveliness (animation and energy in action or expression)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Quick and energetic

Synonyms:

alert; brisk; lively; merry; rattling; snappy; spanking; zippy

Context example:

a spanking breeze

Similar:

energetic (possessing or exerting or displaying energy)

Derivation:

liveliness (animation and energy in action or expression)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Elastic; rebounds readily

Synonyms:

bouncy; live; lively; resilient; springy

Context example:

springy turf

Similar:

elastic (capable of resuming original shape after stretching or compression; springy)

Derivation:

liveliness (animation and energy in action or expression)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Filled with events or activity

Context example:

a lively period in history

Similar:

eventful (full of events or incidents)

Derivation:

liveliness (general activity and motion)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Full of spirit; full of life

Synonyms:

lively; vital

Context example:

this whole lively world

Similar:

alive; animated (having life or vigor or spirit)

Derivation:

liveliness (animation and energy in action or expression)

 Context examples 

Naturally, I believe, I am as lively as Julia, but I have more to think of now.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Laurie smiled, took it, put it in his vest pocket 'to keep it from blowing away', and listened with interest to the lively letter Amy read him.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was but an effusion of lively spirits.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It was mere lively chat, such as any young persons, on an intimate footing, might fall into.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

"I believe you are right," he replied, "and yet I have always set her down as a lively girl."

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

That he should think it worth his while to fancy himself in love with her was a matter of lively astonishment.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The first two weeks of December could be lively and represent your best period to meet someone new.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Lively now! Death Larsen makes you jump better than that, and you know it!

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

No question about his right: but have you never observed that, of all the tales told here about matrimony, Mr. Rochester has been favoured with the most lively and the most continuous?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

But as brother and sister often entertain a lively affection towards each other without desiring a more intimate union, may not such also be our case?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)