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 OleszczakExamples of low-key in a Sentence
Adjective
hoping to make a good impression, he deliberately chose a low-key tie with a subtle pattern
Recent Examples on the Web
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2025
Digital features editor Katherine McLaughlin has owned this frame for over a year now, and continues to appreciate its low-key design and Japanese joinery (read: no screws!).
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2025
Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Nov. 2025
Over a one-week span in early September, kept purposefully low-key, cast and crew filmed at several places around the metro, including Lee’s Summit and the historic Crestwood Shops along 55th Street between Brookside Boulevard and Oak Street.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low-key
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Adjective
Her part in the first season of the gritty oil industry drama was relatively low-key, but it’s been promised that Moore will step more into the fore this time.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Nov. 2025
Digital features editor Katherine McLaughlin has owned this frame for over a year now, and continues to appreciate its low-key design and Japanese joinery (read: no screws!).
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 11 Nov. 2025
Adverb
The singer has attended every home game this season, though her appearances have been noticeably low-key.
—Bryan West, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Nov. 2025
Over a one-week span in early September, kept purposefully low-key, cast and crew filmed at several places around the metro, including Lee’s Summit and the historic Crestwood Shops along 55th Street between Brookside Boulevard and Oak Street.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low-key
Cite this Entry
“Low-key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/low-key. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.
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