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 to
The 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
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Live game stats provided by leagues are key to the sports world’s relationship with the gambling industry. Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025 The key to raising emotionally resilient kids is the ability to repair. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025 Packers reporter Tom Silverstein offers his keys to the game. Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025 These official letters act as a sort of income verification and are therefore key to obtaining aid like housing assistance, fuel assistance and help from nonprofits. The Npr Network, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for key to

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Cite this Entry

“Key to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20to. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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