key 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of keynext
1
as in main
coming before all others in importance maintains that Sir Isaac Newton remains the key figure in physical science

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in crucial
of the greatest possible importance first—and this is key—I wasn't even there that evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

key

2 of 3

noun

ˈkē How to pronounce key (audio)
1
as in table
an explanatory list of the symbols on a map or chart in order to know what those dotted lines represent, you'll need to look at the key

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in gateway
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal a good education is the key to success

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in access
the means or right of entering or participating in he had found the key to her heart

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

key

3 of 3

verb

as in to reconcile
to bring to a state free of conflicts, inconsistencies, or differences her response was perfectly keyed to the situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of key
Adjective
Golesh brought not only his quarterback but his center and 10 more players from South Florida, And the defense returns some key starters. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 The key difference is that Zoe trusts Macon, and John doesn’t trust Hal. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
Proton supports authentication using a hardware security key. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026 The robbery suspects got away with cellphones, watches, car keys, wallets, driver's licenses and money. — Joe Brandt, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
To that end, Suschitzky tried to key off of the many extraordinary performances to find a visual language for the movie. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026 Jorge Polanco, who snapped an 0-for-26 streak in the third inning with just his second homer of the season, keyed the rally with a two-out double off the left-field wall. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for key
Recent Examples of Synonyms for key
  1. main
  2. crucial
  3. table
  4. gateway
  5. access
  6. reconcile
  7. primary
  8. critical
Adjective
  • In the Brazilian city of Cuiabá, the mayor, Abílio Brunini, prohibited one such championship from taking place in the city’s main public space.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Next, workers will install new cables, bolted into the five main branches, to stabilize the tree before removing the old supports.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of main
Adjective
  • Many market participants believe these results will serve as a crucial bellwether to test whether the AI rally can sustain its momentum.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Brown’s ability to hammer Husted on this issue is alarming Republican operatives, who see a Husted victory as crucial to holding a majority in the Senate.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of crucial
Noun
  • So there’s things like that, but then there’s things like looking at a very small bird in your neighborhood, or being at a table with a group of people and being part of a conversation.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Fish Market is a seafood spot with a sea-to-table concept—guests can select their own seafood, which is then cooked with Maldivian flavors and ingredients.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of table
Noun
  • The report comes shortly after data from Ukrainian open-source mapping group Deep State found that the most active battlefield actions were taking place around Kostyantynivka, which is seen as the gateway to the rest of the Donbas region.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • American Airlines is continuing to build Charlotte Douglas International Airport as a global gateway with new, direct service to Barcelona beginning next summer.
    — DJ Simmons, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of gateway
Noun
  • Charles Bradshaw, community plans and liaison officer at Naval Base Coronado, said the bridge preserves vital defense access as part of the strategic highway network.
    — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • How much access is currently possible for emergency vehicles is not clear.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of access
Verb
  • In those earliest works using magazine transfers, Cowin layered disjunctive images, visually uniting realities that can’t easily be reconciled emotionally.
    — Leah Ollman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than actual service failures, those logistical wrinkles serve as reminders that beneath the polished five-star veneer sits a functioning medical practice attempting to reconcile luxury hospitality with individualized medicine.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of reconcile
Adjective
  • The primary comes as Trump attempts to brush off a string of primary losses, with his 10th endorsed candidate losing in last week’s elections.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The primary hurdle moving forward is integrating efficient extraction technologies into existing treatment infrastructure to yield materials that meet industrial standards.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of primary
Adjective
  • The critical consensus on the Croisette was similarly effusive.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Restrictions on energy, electricity or critical minerals, something Ford also floated, could instead raise costs for American companies and consumers by making key inputs more expensive or harder to obtain.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of critical

Browse Nearby Words

kettles of fish
key
keyboardist
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Key.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/key. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on key

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about key

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All