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
Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
The low-key setting — a 6-0 thrashing of third tier opposition in the Carabao Cup third round — does not diminish the quality of strikes that Gomez’s former Inter Miami team-mate Lionel Messi would have been proud of.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025
Where to stay on the North Fork Its largest town, Greenport, offers a low-key alternative to flashier Long Island escapes like the Hamptons.
—Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for low-key
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Adjective
For a more low-key vibe, walk over to Wally’s Café Jazz Club.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
The low-key setting — a 6-0 thrashing of third tier opposition in the Carabao Cup third round — does not diminish the quality of strikes that Gomez’s former Inter Miami team-mate Lionel Messi would have been proud of.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Adverb
In fact, the speculation about her health and her whereabouts reached a fever pitch at one point; that’s how low-key the whole thing was kept.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Oct. 2025
Where to stay on the North Fork Its largest town, Greenport, offers a low-key alternative to flashier Long Island escapes like the Hamptons.
—Sarah Buder, AFAR Media, 2 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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