variants
or less commonly low-keyed
1
: having or producing dark tones only with little contrast
2
: of low intensity : restrained
1
informal
: in a way or to a degree that is moderate or limited
It didn't take long for all of us to become low-key [=somewhat] obsessed with Lizzo …—
Abi Travis
Abi TravisEverywhere we go, we're low-key [=casually] checking out coffee shops, parks, and window seats for maximum reading coziness.—Charlotte Ahlin
Charlotte AhlinWe asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which products have low-key changed their lives.—Samantha Wieder
Samantha WiederFirst things first: for what it's worth, I low-key think Jake Gyllenhaal is the best actor of his generation.—Eric Ital
Eric Ital2
informal
: without seeking or receiving much attention or recognition
Nordstrom low-key announced the sale with little fanfare …—Danielle Gonzalez
Danielle GonzalezThe 21-year-old model and 24-year-old musician surprised everyone when they low-key stepped into a New York City courthouse to make it official …—Jamie Leelo
Jamie Leelo… is low-key getting some of the best and most underrated lines in these episodes …—Kase Wickman
Kase WickmanShe was low-key the best player on that season …—Leigh Oleszczak
Leigh OleszczakSynonyms
Examples of low-key in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebMichelle Lee, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
In fact, having zero plans for several uninterrupted days dedicated to catching up with my oldest friend in a low-key setting was liberating.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
Right now there are low-key deals to be found on high-quality items like Le Creuset cookware, Kiehl’s skin care, and more.
—Malia Griggs, SELF, 15 Apr. 2024
Sure, people were excited when the band’s presence at the festival — their first concert in nine years — was first announced, but the run-up to it was pretty low-key.
—Jeff Miller, Variety, 14 Apr. 2024
Whenever the title comes, the club will hold a low-key postgame party for the players and their families at its stadium, the BayArena.
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
In a surprising turn of events, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce skipped night one of Coachella 2024 for a low-key sushi night.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 13 Apr. 2024
As Hilary Duff and her husband, Matthew Koma, await the arrival of their fourth child, Duff is sharing photos from their low-key maternity shoot.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
For those looking to commune with nature during the celestial event, Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn is hosting a low-key — and free — viewing party on the banks of Jamaica Bay.
—Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 29 Mar. 2023
For a low-key version, buy your own karaoke machine for home.
—Cameron Jenkins, Good Housekeeping, 29 Mar. 2023
More chefs will get out of the hamster wheel of costly meal creation and will set up shop in smaller, more low-key places.
—Dana McMahan, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2023
Some may be cash only, others may be open 24 hours, great for a low-key breakfast after a long night out.
—Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2023
The Secret: Dare to Dream star shared a few snaps of the low-key festivities on Instagram, which included crafts and a flower crown for the birthday girl.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2023
Less bells-and-whistles logos and prints, more blow-the-budget, low-key-but-lustworthy Brunello Cucinelli, Loro Piana, and The Row.
—Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2023
Baggy jeans, oversized coats, and sneakers seem to be the actor's relatable go-tos, and her glam is always refreshingly low-key.
—Amanda Curran, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2023
As the drama dies down from TikTok's dissection of Hailey Bieber's history with Selena Gomez, Hailey gave another public, low-key show of support for Selena.
—Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 27 Mar. 2023
Adjective
Megan Fox is giving a peek behind all her glam — and showing off her most low-key look yet.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
In fact, having zero plans for several uninterrupted days dedicated to catching up with my oldest friend in a low-key setting was liberating.
—Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2024
Right now there are low-key deals to be found on high-quality items like Le Creuset cookware, Kiehl’s skin care, and more.
—Malia Griggs, SELF, 15 Apr. 2024
Sure, people were excited when the band’s presence at the festival — their first concert in nine years — was first announced, but the run-up to it was pretty low-key.
—Jeff Miller, Variety, 14 Apr. 2024
Whenever the title comes, the club will hold a low-key postgame party for the players and their families at its stadium, the BayArena.
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
In a surprising turn of events, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce skipped night one of Coachella 2024 for a low-key sushi night.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 13 Apr. 2024
As Hilary Duff and her husband, Matthew Koma, await the arrival of their fourth child, Duff is sharing photos from their low-key maternity shoot.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
For those looking to commune with nature during the celestial event, Shirley Chisholm State Park in Brooklyn is hosting a low-key — and free — viewing party on the banks of Jamaica Bay.
—Melissa Locker, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024
Adverb
According to the interview, Emma is still keeping things low-key in her personal life.
—Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 29 Mar. 2023
For a low-key version, buy your own karaoke machine for home.
—Cameron Jenkins, Good Housekeeping, 29 Mar. 2023
More chefs will get out of the hamster wheel of costly meal creation and will set up shop in smaller, more low-key places.
—Dana McMahan, The Courier-Journal, 28 Mar. 2023
Some may be cash only, others may be open 24 hours, great for a low-key breakfast after a long night out.
—Lauryn Azu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Mar. 2023
The Secret: Dare to Dream star shared a few snaps of the low-key festivities on Instagram, which included crafts and a flower crown for the birthday girl.
—Sophie Dodd, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2023
Less bells-and-whistles logos and prints, more blow-the-budget, low-key-but-lustworthy Brunello Cucinelli, Loro Piana, and The Row.
—Laura Hawkins, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2023
Baggy jeans, oversized coats, and sneakers seem to be the actor's relatable go-tos, and her glam is always refreshingly low-key.
—Amanda Curran, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2023
As the drama dies down from TikTok's dissection of Hailey Bieber's history with Selena Gomez, Hailey gave another public, low-key show of support for Selena.
—Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 27 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'low-key.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low-key. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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