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.
  • 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
  • Both of them, of course, were locked in and enlivened by the energy pulsing around the ballpark.
    Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 27 Mar. 2018
  • Amid florals and stripes, a stylized block-print pattern in punchy orange enlivens the pillows.
    Marni Elyse Katz, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Mar. 2018
  • Or enliven a dressing by replacing citrus juice in a vinaigrette with finger lime pulp for a burst of flavor with every bite.
    Earl Nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 Apr. 2018
  • Cardamom, cinnamon and ginger enliven the comforting tannins of the wine.
    Scott Hocker, theweek, 16 Sep. 2024
  • San Diego aims to enliven commercial districts with more pedestrian plazas, painted murals and similar amenities.
    David Garrick, sandiegouniontribune.com, 24 Apr. 2018
  • On her to-do list: helping companies diversify their ranks, tackling the square’s notable transportation issues, and ushering in a new era of public art and enlivened streetscapes.
    Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Mar. 2018
  • The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Tenth Avenue and the High Line, meanwhile, enliven the space in other ways.
    Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 16 Sep. 2024
  • In the other, a sumptuous film by French contemporary artist Philippe Parreno re-creates the day as the kind of fiction that extends and enlivens fact.
    Charles Desmarais, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Mar. 2018
  • Stir in a squeeze of lemon juice to enliven the flavor.
    Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 14 July 2023
  • Even just the sound of a cork popping can enliven a room.
    Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 10 Dec. 2022
  • Resin Cuffs Make Iris Apfel proud and enliven your wrists with a stack of bold resin cuffs.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2022
  • Gente de Zona and Taboo enliven the moment with a cumbia dance-off.
    Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2022
  • They’ll be enlivened by dancers cavorting across the lawns, through the playground, around the maze, and around the fountain.
    Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023
  • The lanterns and tiered plants enliven it even further.
    Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 3 July 2022
  • Their bright and acidic juice can enliven all kinds of dishes.
    Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 15 July 2019
  • Think metallic gold enlivened with a bubbly spirit and a bit of pop.
    Irene Kim, Vogue, 30 Dec. 2023
  • Eckhart’s good, in an unforced, un-showy way, as is Luke Evans, who enlivens his scenes as Lt.
    Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, 7 Nov. 2019
  • There’s something about a good beach that enlivens the senses: the briny scent of salt in the air, the calming murmur of waves, the gentle nip of sand whipped up by the soft breeze.
    Lizzie Pook, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 July 2023
  • The words are projected on surfaces all over the wasteland, enlivening even the bridge in the distance.
    Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2020
  • And at least Jackson and Usher enliven some of the canned banter.
    Jesse Hassenger, The Verge, 21 June 2019
  • Due to their large trumpet-like blooms, amaryllis plants will enliven any part of your space.
    Mariah Thomas, Good Housekeeping, 31 Jan. 2023
  • Check out his suggestion on how to enliven the dog days of summer.
    Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, 15 July 2019
  • That sense of humor enlivens the whole 75-minute performance.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024
  • Yet chess has never been more popular—A.I. has enlivened the game.
    James Somers, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
  • 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
  • Okoro, the 20-year-old who was drafted with the fifth pick to help enliven the league’s worst defense, has guarded the best this season.
    Chris Fedor, cleveland, 16 Apr. 2021
  • Add a burst of freshness to your chili just before serving to enliven all the flavors.
    Robin Miller, USA TODAY, 24 Sep. 2022

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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