key to
phrasal verb
keyed to; keying to; keys to
chiefly US
1
: to make (something) suitable for (a particular use or type of person)
I try to key my lectures to my audience.
—often used as (be) keyed toThe educational program is keyed to the needs of working women.
2
: to change (something) in a way that is closely related to (something else)
—usually used as (be) keyed to
The amount of money they receive is keyed to the rate of inflation.
Examples of key to in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The biggest key to success, was not just the machinery that was put in place, but the mind to run it – Louis B. Mayer.
—
Chris Yogerst, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Apr. 2024
The key to curating a great travel wardrobe is by filling it with comfortable, versatile staples that can be worn in a plethora of ways.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2024
The key to managing the sprawl of a double album is to change it up enough from track to track to keep things interesting.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
YouTube’s powerful recommendation algorithm — an endless pipeline of new videos based on the user’s interests — is key to its allure.
—Reggie Ugwu, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Balancing comfort and professionalism is key to making a strong impression during the case interview.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 26 Apr. 2024
Along with touting the president’s agenda and legislative wins, Frost told USA TODAY that the key to turning out young voters is drawing a stark contrast between Biden and Trump to voters who are inclined to stay home.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Climate & Environment For Subscribers Joshua Tree’s famed three-legged coyote Tripod is in danger of being loved to death
March 11, 2024
The key to making great cheese is simple for Drake: Keep your goats happy and clean.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The key to a great shave is to get really close to where those teeny-tiny hairs meet the skin while staving off irritation or nicking the skin, which can lead to ingrown hairs, discomfort, and discoloration.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 23 Apr. 2024
Chris Yogerst, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Apr. 2024
The key to curating a great travel wardrobe is by filling it with comfortable, versatile staples that can be worn in a plethora of ways.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2024
The key to managing the sprawl of a double album is to change it up enough from track to track to keep things interesting.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 26 Apr. 2024
YouTube’s powerful recommendation algorithm — an endless pipeline of new videos based on the user’s interests — is key to its allure.
—Reggie Ugwu, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Balancing comfort and professionalism is key to making a strong impression during the case interview.
—Ebony Flake, Essence, 26 Apr. 2024
Along with touting the president’s agenda and legislative wins, Frost told USA TODAY that the key to turning out young voters is drawing a stark contrast between Biden and Trump to voters who are inclined to stay home.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024
Climate & Environment For Subscribers Joshua Tree’s famed three-legged coyote Tripod is in danger of being loved to death
March 11, 2024
The key to making great cheese is simple for Drake: Keep your goats happy and clean.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2024
The key to a great shave is to get really close to where those teeny-tiny hairs meet the skin while staving off irritation or nicking the skin, which can lead to ingrown hairs, discomfort, and discoloration.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'key to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near key to
Cite this Entry
“Key to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20to. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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