to liven up
66
3.9
- phrasal verb
- /ˈlaɪvən ʌp/
- Informal
:
animar
- The live music is sure to liven up the event and get everyone dancing.
So bronzer will really liven up the face.
- So bronzer will really liven up the face.
- Nothing crazy, but just enough to liven things up.
- But this is what happened was that when we were clapping and dancing for me and my friend, she actually just livened up and she she did this from her wheelchair to us.
- I think that would really liven things up a bit because from where I'm sitting, the floor, I mean, it works, but could certainly improve.
- Clutch is good, acceptable shifter is great, but most importantly, it just livens up the damn thing so much the car.
Examples
-
I guess we should liven it up with a recap.
-
Screen doors opened and were allowed to bang, and radios began to liven up the summer atmosphere.
Fiction book (1995) -
We need some color to liven up this tree.
-
Liven up that first meal of the day.
-
So bronzer will really liven up the face.
-
We're going to start out by adding a little bit of blush just to liven up the face.
-
We'll just have to liven them up, won't we?
-
- Come on now, we got to find something to liven up Uncle Harry's dull old office.
-
Finnegan, and you got 10 minutes before this thing livens up a boring evening.
Fiction book (1998) -
Adding some festive decorations will really liven up the party atmosphere.
Synonyms
236
3.7
Make a person or thing more active, alert and responsive
65
3.7
To make someone feel more active and alert
64
2.7
To make something more active, alert or interested
64
3.7
Begin to seem full of life, like a place with people around
57
3.4
To become more intense or make a situation more intense
56
3.7
Become lively and full of activity or interest
28
4.1
Make someone feel excited and full of energy
27
2.7
To make a place or thing look more cheerful by adding color
26
5.5
To give more energy and make someone or something feel lively
25
4.0
To make a group or event more lively and energetic
24
5.5
Make a person or thing look and feel younger
23
3.9
To make something more interesting or exciting
19
5.7
To give new energy and interest to a person or thing
17
2.7
Make a room or person more cheerful
16
3.1
Become more lively and cheerful after feeling tired or sad
6
4.1
Make something more active and interesting
5
4.1
To make a place or event feel lively and energetic
4
3.6
To make something more exciting or interesting
4
4.9
To make someone or something more lively
3
4.1
To give new energy and enthusiasm to a person or thing
3
4.1
Make someone or something more lively and interesting
3
7.0
Make someone feel happier and full of energy
3
3.8
Make a room feel happy and friendly when someone arrives
2
5.4
To make a person or thing more lively
2
5.1
Make something more interesting and lively, like a room or outfit
1
6.7
To make something full of life and energy
1
8.5
To give new life and energy to people or things
1
8.2
To make something more lively or bright
1
2.9
Make a room feel more lively and cheerful
1
7.7
To become more active or exciting in a situation
Make people more interested and eager about something
Make an event like a party more lively and exciting
To make something more lively or exciting
To make someone feel happier or more lively
To make a room feel happier and more lively
Antonyms
How Lively
14
4.1
26
5.5
- US
65
3.7
- Informal
66
3.9
- Informal
16
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'to make or become more lively' is directly derivable from combining 'liven' (to make lively) with the particle 'up' (to increase or intensify), so the composition yields the MWE meaning transparently. The verb+up intensifying pattern is common and predictable, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand it.
Etymology
Liven up comes from the simple image of making something more alive: liven means to make alive and up means more. Imagine turning on music or adding colorful lights so a room fills with energy, so the phrase means 'to make something or someone more lively' or 'to become more lively'.