keystroke

1 of 2

noun

key·​stroke ˈkē-ˌstrōk How to pronounce keystroke (audio)
: the act or an instance of depressing a key on a keyboard

keystroke

2 of 2

verb

keystroked; keystroking; keystrokes

Examples of keystroke in a Sentence

Noun He deleted all of my work with a single keystroke.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
The ability to conjure up endless facts and figures with a few keystrokes seems almost magical. George Soroka, Foreign Affairs, 16 Nov. 2015 Using the scripting program AutoHotkey with a new laptop with a Copilot button, Tom's Hardware discovered the keystrokes registered when a user presses the Copilot key. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
Bernhardt’s report points to keystroke logging technology and webcams that can tell when a person goes off task as examples of tech that can keep track of people even when working from home. Chase Difeliciantonio, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Nov. 2021 See all Example Sentences for keystroke 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1867, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of keystroke was in 1867

Dictionary Entries Near keystroke

Cite this Entry

“Keystroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keystroke. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

keystroke

noun
key·​stroke
-ˌstrōk
: the act or an instance of pushing down a key on a keyboard

More from Merriam-Webster on keystroke

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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