keyboard

1 of 2

noun

key·​board ˈkē-ˌbȯrd How to pronounce keyboard (audio)
1
a
: a bank of keys on a musical instrument (such as a piano) that usually consists of seven white and five raised black keys to the octave
b
: a musical instrument that is played by means of a keyboard
2
: a group of systematically arranged keys by which a machine or device is operated
a computer keyboard
3
: a board on which keys for locks are hung

keyboard

2 of 2

verb

keyboarded; keyboarding; keyboards

transitive verb

: to enter (data, text, etc.) by means of a keyboard
keyboard a manuscript
… he would like her to drop her copy off and have it keyboarded into the system by someone else.Margaret Atwood

intransitive verb

: to operate a machine (as for typesetting) by means of a keyboard
keyboarder noun

Examples of keyboard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There were doomy, crashing chords, relentless drumming, a pounding keyboard, and some vigorous tambourine. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024 And this is all set to a minimal trip-hop beat (with a slight hint of G-funk) and an atmospheric keyboard wash over a pulsating bassline. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 The quintet is solidly filled out by Atom Ellis on bass and Dave Medd on keyboards. Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Back in London, the birthplace of the music that propelled them, Chandra (the last standing original member) and keyboard savant Patrick Mwondela (responsible for the band’s ‘80s disco resurgence) are more passionate than ever to wax poetic about WITCH’s rise, and fall, and rightful renaissance. Tracy Kawalik, SPIN, 5 Mar. 2024 Farther inside, an old-fashioned spinning wheel and a desktop computer with its keyboard. Thomas Korsgaard, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Fellow band members include Paul Jackson (guitar, vocals), Richard Turner (bass, vocals), Brit Turner (drums), and Brandon Still (keyboards). Pam Windsor, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Soon, the sounds of keyboards, standup bass and percussion echoed from down the long hallway. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 And Evans, unlike any other pianist working in jazz, could put these things onto the keyboard. James Kaplan, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
The aftermath of the shooting was disappointing but not surprising; though Megan was the victim, not the perpetrator of the violence, she was harassed and slandered by everyone from her peers in the industry to keyboard warriors on social media. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 7 Nov. 2023 Needless to say, this analogy was such a howler that many, many people besides just me took fingers to keyboard to lambaste Robert Bryce, the author of that OpEd. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 7 Oct. 2011 While this is very expensive for an entry-level tablet, a report suggests that Apple had considered launching a plastic iPad and keyboard for under $500. José Adorno, BGR, 1 Nov. 2022 There’s a quiet catharsis in putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and creating a poem, short story or other literary thingy. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 19 Nov. 2021 Students need practice putting pencil to paper and not just fingers to keyboard. Brian Platzer, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2020 Summer learning in District 181 focused on core classes, including 14 math, 12 language arts, nine art and one foreign language, keyboarding, creative writing, along with a writing camp. Chuck Fieldman, chicagotribune.com, 26 June 2019 The music series starts Sunday and runs through Oct. 14, featuring artists that range from trumpeter Bo Berry to keyboard player Gail Jhonson. Mary Colurso, AL.com, 7 Apr. 2018 Students need to learn printing, cursive and keyboarding to have all the tools for communication success. Erin Dolin, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'keyboard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1906, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of keyboard was in 1776

Dictionary Entries Near keyboard

Cite this Entry

“Keyboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keyboard. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

keyboard

noun
key·​board
ˈkē-ˌbō(ə)rd,
-ˌbȯ(ə)rd
1
: a row or set of keys by which a musical instrument (as a piano) is played
2
: the whole arrangement of keys by which a machine (as a typewriter or computer) is operated

More from Merriam-Webster on keyboard

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!