key to
phrasal 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 toThe 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
Advertisement This go-getter attitude and ability to think on the fly was key to launching Tinder as a popular dating tool on campuses.
—
Barry Levitt, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to confirm any summit plans, but spokesperson Liu Pengyu said head-of-state diplomacy remains key to guiding relations.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Paul shared his athlete-first philosophy and how authenticity is key to building lasting relationships with fans.
—Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But perhaps the key to not losing much in translation is not having much to lose in the first place.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key to
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Barry Levitt, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to confirm any summit plans, but spokesperson Liu Pengyu said head-of-state diplomacy remains key to guiding relations.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
Paul shared his athlete-first philosophy and how authenticity is key to building lasting relationships with fans.
—Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
But perhaps the key to not losing much in translation is not having much to lose in the first place.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for key to
Cite this Entry
“Key to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20to. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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