I. ˈlīvlē, -li adjective
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English līflīc, from līf life + -līc -ly — more at life
1. obsolete : living
2. : animated , vivid , brisk , keen , vigorous
is a lively and fluent conversationalist — Arthur Knight
the school's great tradition of lively teaching — N.M.Pusey
two Californians … were lively entries — S.H.Adams
a Glasgow journalist with a lively mind and ready wit — Gilbert Harding
3. : active , intense
a lively sense of the ludicrous — T.L.Peacock
roused his liveliest disgust — John Buchan
a lively trade in farm products — H.E.Starr
4. : brilliant , fresh , gay
the lively charm of Florentine and Venetian artists — American Guide Series: New York City
a lively , flashing wit
it was moist and overgrown with mosses, ferns, creepers, and low shrubs, all of the liveliest green — W.H.Hudson †1922
5. : enlivening , tangy : not flat : sparkling
many a peer of England brews livelier liquor than the Muse — A.E.Housman
6.
a. : quick to rebound : resilient
b. of a baseball : capable of traveling an excessively great distance when hit
the pitchers know they are throwing that lively ball — Ted Williams
c. : riding lightly on the sea : responding readily to the helm
a lively boat
7.
a. : full of life, movement, or incident
the Detroit river … surface was lively with craft of all descriptions — American Guide Series: Michigan
b. : requiring alertness or activity because of danger or opposition
enemy artillery made things lively for a while
speakers from across the aisle gave then a lively time
Synonyms:
animated , vivacious , sprightly , gay : lively may suggest briskness, alertness, keenness, or energy
the liveliest, the most provocative, and the most curiously informed study of the current political situation … written with energy and with racy humor — H.S.Commager
boomtowns, stomping dances, big talk, hope unlimited, a veritable explosion of moving, building, and moving, kept things lively — Russell Lord
animated is close to lively and may apply to the spirited, sparkling, or quite active
even the hardest of his friends … became animated when he took her hand, tried to meet the gay challenge in her eyes and to reply cleverly to the droll word of greeting on her lips — Willa Cather
an animated chatter, like the bubbles of champagne made articulate — Joseph Hergesheimer
vivacious suggests a very active liveliness, often sportive, compelling, or alluring
they began to laugh and play, and turn heels over head, showing themselves jolly and vivacious brats — Nathaniel Hawthorne
remember her as very pretty and vivacious. I never met a girl with as much zip as she had in those days — Ring Lardner
sprightly , close to vivacious , may suggest a liveliness that is alert and spirited
the thrill of his enthusiasm made him walk with an elastic step. He was sprightly, vigorous, fiery in his belief in success — Stephen Crane
Mrs. Thomas, sprightly again, laughed with Dylan as they recounted old stories the day's visits had recalled, and waved greetings to friends — J.M.Brinnin
gay suggests demonstrative carefreeness, sometimes marked by merriment or exuberance
three gay girls, overflowing with life, health, and youth; and full of spirits and mischief — Herman Melville
a gay world with its country squires and their horses and racing, its Madeira drinking, its promenades and dancing and assemblies — V.L.Parrington
II. adverb
( usually -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, from lively, adjective
: in a lively manner
now then, step lively there