How to Use enliven in a Sentence

enliven

verb
  • He enlivened his speech with a few jokes.
  • A few touches of color will enliven the room.
  • The room is enlivened by a small green wall section.
    — Adam Williams april 19, New Atlas, 19 Apr. 2026
  • Their bright and acidic juice can enliven all kinds of dishes.
    — Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 15 July 2019
  • Up top, the actress wore a crisp white button-up enlivened with a long cream fringe scarf.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Think metallic gold enlivened with a bubbly spirit and a bit of pop.
    — Irene Kim, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2023
  • Yet each performer enlivens a role that looks a bit beleaguered on the page.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Next to the punchbowl, a tiny dancer enlivened a package of Dutch liqueur.
    — Troy Patterson, Bloomberg.com, 2 May 2017
  • Lawrence enlivened the luxe heels by way of dainty anklets on both ankles.
    — Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Due to their large trumpet-like blooms, amaryllis plants will enliven any part of your space.
    — Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Jan. 2023
  • Use one to set off a small area or several to enliven an entire wall.
    — Christina Vercelletto, CNN Underscored, 24 Sep. 2020
  • Check out his suggestion on how to enliven the dog days of summer.
    — Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, 15 July 2019
  • Neutral and clean with just a whisper of grain and pepper to enliven the palate.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
  • Some splashes of color help enliven it too.
    — Adam Williams april 23, New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Gente de Zona and Taboo enliven the moment with a cumbia dance-off.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2022
  • But Hitt has a special skill for enlivening the archive, and its gaps.
    — Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
  • Is the pass rush suddenly enlivened to a point that the defense as a whole can take a big leap forward?
    — Rich Campbell, chicagotribune.com, 23 Apr. 2018
  • The blend creates a warm harmony that’s sure to enliven any room.
    — Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2024
  • Toyon shrubs enliven the landscape with vivid splashes of red from their bright berries.
    — Daniel Bromfield, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The discussion was enlivened by questions from a packed house of students and cinephiles.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Both of them, of course, were locked in and enlivened by the energy pulsing around the ballpark.
    — Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 27 Mar. 2018
  • Her pot roast has just enough sherry to soothe; shredded kimchi enlivens the brussels sprouts.
    — Patric Kuh, Los Angeles Magazine, 26 Oct. 2017
  • The study, for instance, is grounded in black and white but enlivened with pops of mustard-yellow.
    — Tim McKeough, ELLE Decor, 31 May 2012
  • There is also enough cheese and schmaltz to go around, enlivening the more straightforward parts of the film.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 25 May 2026
  • To enliven the wicker, add pillows for pops of color.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Add a burst of freshness to your chili just before serving to enliven all the flavors.
    — Robin Miller, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2022
  • Add a burst of freshness to your chili just before serving to enliven all the flavors.
    — Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 22 Sep. 2022
  • There’s just enough to enliven the brine with flavor but not enough to add a definitive amount of heat.
    — Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 5 July 2024
  • Head coach Tyronn Lue said being back at home has the Cavs enlivened.
    — Chris Fedor, cleveland.com, 14 Jan. 2018
  • Meléndez knows how to enliven a scene with chaos or bring down the excitement when a message needs to get across.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 May 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enliven.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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