vivacious suggests an activeness of gesture and wit, often playful or alluring.
a vivacious party host
sprightly suggests lightness and spirited vigor of manner or wit.
a tuneful, sprightly musical
gay stresses complete freedom from care and overflowing spirits.
the gay spirit of Paris in the 1920s
Example Sentences
a very lively writing style The book is lively and well written. They had a lively debate. A lively atmosphere keeps people coming back to the café.
Recent Examples on the WebHere, bright blues and shades of coral keep the living room lively and fun. Grace Gallagher, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2022 Round and mouth filling but with a sharp acid streak to keep it lively. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 29 June 2022 Dinner-table conversations about politics were lively and frequent, said Marion Bestani, her youngest sister. James R. Hagerty, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2022 Even at default contrast settings, the monitor hit 1,873:1 and showed image quality that was noticeably more lively than a typical IPS monitor. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 25 Aug. 2022 More than 50 metro Detroit residents and politicians took part in a lively public comment period at the council chambers in Pontiac. Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2022 Despite the somber topic, the crowd Saturday afternoon was lively, participating in chants, making posters and conversing with one another over tacos after the speakers concluded. Daedan Olander, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 Over the past decade, Sanford has created a lively downtown that draws visitors from around the region by investing millions of dollars in streetscaping projects and incentives to lure in new restaurants, microbreweries and events. Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2022 Cabo San Lucas has a reputation for its nightlife and lively downtown. Lauren Beale, Forbes, 28 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English līflīc, from līf life
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 8
Time Traveler
The first known use of lively was before the 12th century