: lively in temper, conduct, or spirit : sprightly
vivaciouslyadverb
vivaciousnessnoun
Did you know?
It's no surprise that vivacious means "full of life," since it can be traced back to the Latin verb vivere, meaning "to live." The word was created around the mid-17th century using vivax, a vivere derivative meaning "long-lived, vigorous, or high-spirited." Other descendants of vivere in English include survive, revive, and victual—all of which came to life during the 15th century—and vivid and convivial, both of which surfaced around the same time as vivacious. Somewhat surprisingly, the word live is not related; it comes to us from the Old English word libban.
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
Historically, in nations where city economies are dying and where, as well, cities are drained in service to transactions of decline, one city remains vivacious longest: the capital city. Jane Jacobs, Cities and the Wealth of Nations, (1984) 1985You see, for years I have built my figure on the premise that "fat people are jolly." I have eaten my way through: pleasant, cheery, sunny, smiling, gay, spirited, chipper, vivacious, sparkling, happy, and sportive and was well on my way to becoming hysterical. Erma Bombeck, The Best of Bombeck, (1965) 1967She could follow every word that the ramblers uttered. They were talking no secrets. They were merely indulging in the ordinary vivacious chat of relatives who have long been parted in person though not in soul. Thomas Hardy, The Return of the Native, 1878 an outgoing, vivacious girl who became a successful sales rep the poem is a vivacious expression of his love for her
Recent Examples on the WebThe details are bizarre, and this part of the book is as strange and horrifying as its beginning is vivacious and triumphant. Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 29 July 2022 Davis regularly writes about vivacious young women, their dreams, their work, their environment (in this case the imposing Frick Mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side) and their place in American history. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2022 Jane’s own downfall came about as a result of her relationship with Katherine, the king’s young, vivacious fifth wife. Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Aug. 2022 Basically, a Leo’s hair is an extension of their vivacious charm, which is why Leo season is the ideal time to sport especially voluminous bombshell blowouts. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 25 July 2022 When Griffith released the clamp off of his 57-year-old patient’s new heart, blood rushed through David Bennett’s coronary arteries and transformed the pale lifeless pig organ into a vivacious scarlet pump. Simar Bajaj, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2022 Over the previous few years, my once vivacious daughter had turned sullen, anger and resentment coiled around her.Wired, 5 July 2022 Get set for sustained bursts of saxophones, creative keyboards, profound percussion and vivacious vocals, bolstered by bass and accented by any number of other instruments (like a harp). Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 July 2022 The vivacious Arthur also portrayed a nudie-magazine cover girl opposite Don Knotts and Edmond O’Brien in The Love God? Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin vivac-, vivax long-lived, vigorous, high-spirited, from vivere to live