key to

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

Asia seems to have found the key to using technology in a way that benefits students. — Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026

The three neighboring nations on the Secretary of State’s tour this week are key to the White House’s hemispheric security agenda. — Alfie Pannell, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

The key to this illusion is a phenomenon called gravitational lensing, first predicted by Albert Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, general relativity, which also first predicted the existence of gravitational waves. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026

Running the ball successfully will be the key to victory for both teams. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for key to

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou