What are the definitions of “liven up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Make something more exciting or interesting.
Perhaps a walk by the sea would liven them up.
- 2Make something more interesting or exciting.
You can liven up a plain shirt with a colourful scarf.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “liven up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb liven up is to make something more exciting, interesting, or enjoyable. It can be used to describe adding excitement to a situation, event, or even a person's mood.
What are the different verb forms of “liven up”?
| Root Verb | liven up |
| Third Person Singular Present | livens up |
| Present Participle | livening up |
| Simple Past | livened up |
| Past Participle | livened up |
Example
We need to liven up this party with some music.
Example
She always livens up the room with her positive energy.
Example
He is livening up the conversation with his funny stories.
Example
They livened up the event with a surprise performance.
Example
The decorations really livened up the venue.
What kind of phrasal verb is “liven up”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“liven up” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She livened up the party with her dance moves.
Example
He livened the room up with his jokes.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“liven up” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She livened up the party with her dance moves.
Example
He livened the room up with his jokes.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “liven up”?
Liven up a conversation
Make a conversation more engaging or interesting.
Example
She livened up the conversation with her funny anecdotes.
Good things to know
Does “liven up” have an informal or formal tone?
Liven up is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and casual contexts. In more formal settings, you might use synonyms like 'enliven' or 'invigorate' instead.
