Skip to main content
to vivify

to vivify

1 8.2
To make something more lively or bright
  • verb
  • /ˈvɪvɪfaɪ/
  • Formal
translation icon : vivificar
  • The vibrant colors of the painting helped to vivify the entire room.
  • vivify his presence

Examples

  • Just as the sun's rays vivify everything living, so does reverence in the student vivify all feelings of the soul (1986, 12).

    Academic text (1991)
  • Just as some romantic art vivifies science, some contemporary art history reinvests expressive images with scientific or "objective" referents.

    Academic text (1995)
  • But without the seed, could it be vivified?

    Fiction book (1991)
  • " God's being, then, is creation; is vivifying other things, is living in others.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Indeed, the presence in our midst of a living opponent of the Arab national idea vivifies it and stirs the blood within us.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The foggy, cool sunrises of Algonquin vivify me; their gift of allowing me to remember my last night's dreams is not small.

    Academic text (2005)
  • The actual manipulation of these concrete referents serves as a vehicle to vivify and personalize the experience.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Most commonly, the present tense has been seen as a means of vivifying, animating, or heightening events in the narrative past by making them "present" in time.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Her stories about her travels always vivify conversations at dinner parties.

  • The joyous music seemed to vivify the crowd, making everyone want to dance.

Synonyms

to stimulate
vsto vivify
236 3.7

Make a person or thing more active, alert and responsive

aims more at producing vivid sensory or visual effect than mere alertness
to lighten
vsto vivify
104 3.4

To make people or a situation feel more cheerful

focuses more on vivid sensory enlivening than on mood lightening
to liven up
vsto vivify
  • Informal
66 3.9

To make or become more active and interesting

aims more at creating vivid, striking qualities than mere liveliness
to energize
vsto vivify
  • US
65 3.7

To make someone feel more active and alert

leans toward adding vivid sensory life rather than only boosting alertness
to excite
vsto vivify
64 2.7

To make something more active, alert or interested

tends to stress vivid, sensory enrichment rather than excitement intensity
to spice
vsto vivify
  • Informal
38 3.6

To make something more interesting and lively

aims more at producing striking visual or sensory vividness than fun
to brighten
vsto vivify
27 2.7

To make a place or thing look more cheerful by adding color

is broader, aiming at vividness beyond just cheerful appearance
to invigorate
vsto vivify
26 5.5

To give more energy and make someone or something feel lively

focuses more on vivid, lively appearance than on physical strength
to animate
vsto vivify
25 4.0

To make a group or event more lively and energetic

places stronger emphasis on visual vividness and brightness
to spice up
vsto vivify
  • Informal
23 3.9

To make something more interesting or exciting

puts stronger emphasis on vivid, sensory brightness than playful flair
to reinvigorate
vsto vivify
19 5.7

To give new energy and interest to a person or thing

highlights vivid, sensory enlivening rather than only increasing strength
to brighten up
vsto vivify
  • Informal
17 2.7

Make a room or person more cheerful

leans more toward creating vivid, sensory intensity rather than mere cheerfulness
to reanimate
vsto vivify
16 7.2

To bring back life and energy to a person or thing

emphasizes vivid sensory change rather than historical restoration
to electrify
vsto vivify
14 4.1

To make people feel very excited and want to act

is less about sudden intensity and more about lasting vivid liveliness
to recreate
vsto vivify
8 5.3

To make someone or something feel fresh and full of energy

targets vividness and immediacy of impression rather than general refreshment
to enliven
vsto vivify
6 4.1

Make something more active and interesting

stresses visual vividness and intensity rather than simple engagement
to give life to
vsto vivify
5 4.1

To make a place or event feel lively and energetic

focuses especially on producing vivid sensory or visual effect
to liven
vsto vivify
4 3.6

To make something more exciting or interesting

leans more toward adding vivid, sensory detail than general liveliness
to pep
vsto vivify
  • Informal
4 4.9

To make someone or something more lively

leans more toward adding vivid sensory detail rather than a short energy boost
to reenergize
vsto vivify
  • US
3 4.1

To give new energy and enthusiasm to a person or thing

puts more weight on creating vivid, striking impressions than mere energy
to renovate
vsto vivify
3 4.0

To make a person or thing feel fresh and full of energy

is less about physical renovation and more about vivid sensory change
to pep up
vsto vivify
  • Informal
3 4.1

Make someone or something more lively and interesting

focuses more on creating vivid, lasting sensory effect than a short boost
to quicken
vsto vivify
2 5.4

To make a person or thing more lively

puts extra emphasis on making things vividly striking rather than just quicker
to jazz up
vsto vivify
  • Informal
2 5.1

Make something more interesting and lively, like a room or outfit

is more about vivid, sensory enlivening than casual stylistic change
to vitalize
vsto vivify
  • US
1 6.7

To make something full of life and energy

leans more toward making sensory impressions vivid rather than general vigor
to revivify
vsto vivify
  • Formal
1 8.5

To give new life and energy to people or things

is more about adding vivid, immediate sensory brightness than renewal
to juice up
vsto vivify
  • Informal
6.7

Make an event like a party more lively and exciting

focuses more on vivid sensory change rather than informal stylistic energy

Antonyms

19 6.8

To stop growing or changing and stay the same, like water in a pond

How Lively

to invigorate
26 5.5
to rejuvenate
24 5.5
to vivify
  • Formal
1 8.2
to enliven
6 4.1
to brighten
27 2.7

Surface Forms

vivify infinitive
vivified past
vivified past participle
vivifying present participle
vivifies third person singular

Morphology

vivify = vivid (transparent) = viv + ify

The verb is a straightforward verb-forming derivation meaning 'make (something) vivid/lively', which learners can infer from 'vivid' + '-ify'.

Etymology

The word vivify comes from the Latin root viv- meaning 'to live' and the ending -fy meaning 'make'. Think of vivid or revive: to vivify is to 'make alive' or to make something more lively and full of energy.