lively

[lahyv-lee] /ˈlaɪv li/
adjective, livelier, liveliest.
1.
full or suggestive of life or vital energy; active, vigorous, or brisk:
a lively discussion.
2.
animated, spirited, vivacious, or sprightly:
a lively tune; a lively wit.
3.
eventful, stirring, or exciting:
The opposition gave us a lively time.
4.
bustling with activity; astir:
The marketplace was lively with vendors.
5.
strong, keen, or distinct; vivid:
a lively recollection.
6.
striking, telling, or effective, as an expression or instance.
7.
vivid or bright, as color or light:
a lively pink.
8.
sparkling, as wines.
9.
fresh or invigorating, as air:
a lively breeze.
10.
rebounding quickly; springing back; resilient:
a lively tennis ball.
11.
riding the sea buoyantly, as a ship.
adverb
12.
with briskness, vigor, or animation; briskly:
to step lively.
Origin
before 1000; Middle English; Old English līflīc vital. See life, -ly
Related forms
livelily, adverb
liveliness, noun
overliveliness, noun
overlively, adjective
unliveliness, noun
unlively, adjective, adverb
Synonyms
1. alert, spry, nimble, agile, quick, pert. 2. gay, buoyant. 5. forceful, clear. 7. brilliant, clear, glowing.
Antonyms
1. inactive, torpid. 2. dull. 5. weak. 7. dim.
Examples from the web for lively
  • lively street scenes followed, including the busy entrances to underground stations.
  • Provoked by the professor's story, other faculty members have since engaged in a lively conversation about how to avoid his fate.
  • There is a lively discussion about whether it is good or bad.
  • But it is remarkable that a century-old theory still remains a topic of such lively debate.
  • The tropical party town has lively restaurants and pretty beaches.
  • They're simply awesome wheels, and the snappy acceleration they allow goes a long way toward the bike's lively feel.
  • Another thing, if you're giving a job talk, try to be lively and to have a talk that fits neatly into the time allotted.
  • But minds that keep lively will suffer less than the lazy.
  • People, lively discussion is fun and essential to good science.
  • But they can also easily be varied with a few extra ingredients to keep menus lively.
British Dictionary definitions for lively

lively

/ˈlaɪvlɪ/
adjective -lier, -liest
1.
full of life or vigour
2.
vivacious or animated, esp when in company
3.
busy; eventful
4.
characterized by mental or emotional intensity; vivid
5.
having a striking effect on the mind or senses
6.
refreshing: a lively breeze
7.
springy or bouncy or encouraging springiness: a lively ball
8.
(of a boat or ship) readily responsive to the helm
adverb
9.
in a brisk manner: step lively
10.
(interjection) look lively, make haste
Derived Forms
liveliness, noun
Word Origin and History for lively
adj.

Old English liflic "living, existing," literally "life-like;" from life + -ly (2). Sense of "active, energetic" developed by early 13c., from notion "full of life."