Spell Bee Word: Enliven

Basic Details

Word: Enliven

Part of Speech: Verb

Meaning: To make something more lively, interesting or cheerful.

Synonyms: brighten, cheer up, liven up, animate

Antonyms: dampen, dull, deaden

How to Spell Enliven

Syllables: en - liv - en

Tricky part: It is en + liven, so it both starts and ends with en. The middle is liv, with a short i.

Watch out for: enlivan, inliven, enlivin, enlivven

Memory tip: En at the front, n at the back and live in the middle: en + live + n. Bringing life to something enlivens it.

Usage Examples

Example 1: Bright posters enlivened the dull corridor.

Example 2: A few jokes can enliven a long speech.

Example 3: Folk dancers enlivened the village fair.

Fun Fact

The shorter verb liven is nearly always followed by up, as in liven up a party, while enliven does the same job without needing up.

Practise the CREST Way

Word Connection

Choose the antonym of the word enlivened as used in the sentence:

The arrival of a brass band from Goa enlivened the quiet wedding reception.

a) animated
b) dampened
c) energised
d) brightened

Word Cookie

Choose the letters that complete the word:

enl_v_n

a) i, a
b) i, i
c) e, e
d) i, e

Spell-o-Spell

Three words in the list are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.

1. endanger 2. inliven 3. enlarge 4. enlighten

a) to make something bigger
b) to make something more lively
c) to put someone or something at risk
d) to give someone greater knowledge

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which would most enliven a dull class?

a) a long silence
b) a cancelled game
c) a dim room
d) a lively quiz

2. To enliven a room is to make it more ____.

a) silent
b) expensive
c) crowded
d) cheerful