How to Use key in a Sentence

key

1 of 3 adjective
Definition of keynext
Synonyms for keynext
  • Their votes were key in getting the bill passed.
  • Underline key words and phrases as you read.
  • The key question is “Can we afford it?”.
  • He's a key player in the organization.
  • Devoe’s key three late in the game helped the Blazers hold off the Spurs.
    — Afentres, oregonlive, 9 July 2023
  • Hall was a key member of the team that built the implosion bomb.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2023
  • And here’s the key: light travels through space at a finite speed.
    — Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 28 June 2023
  • My key takeaway here is listen to your body and don’t to wait to seek care.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN, 7 Feb. 2024
  • But Robinson hit a key three in the fourth and had a big steal during the Heat’s 18-8 run to open the fourth quarter.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Feb. 2024
  • The workers are a key source of foreign income for the country.
    — Bradford Betz, Fox News, 27 Aug. 2023
  • For male actor in a leading role, true stories seem to be key.
    — Emily Longeretta, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
  • For Jared Goff, a key part of moving on to the Lions required getting some closure from the Rams.
    — Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2023
  • That's why winning over key groups that were with him in 2020 is so important for Biden.
    — Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 7 Apr. 2024
  • Weather was a key factor 35 years ago when the Cubs became the last major league team to add lights to its home field.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2023
  • Qatar and Egypt have played key roles in the negotiations.
    — Ken Thomas, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023
  • One of his key tasks is to help the company groom a successor, a goal that has proved challenging in the past.
    — Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2023
  • Pitching depth and strong defense were key, along with hitting eight home runs.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2023
  • In contrast, the high-speed rail line will cut through the heart of the valley, and Fresno and Bakersfield are key transportation hubs along the route.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
  • Keith has cemented himself as a key piece of the Tigers' long-term future.
    — Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 26 June 2023
  • Sodium, one of the body’s key electrolytes, helps control blood pressure, nerves, and muscles.
    — Korin Miller, Health, 3 Aug. 2023
  • The key moment, though, came 49 seconds earlier, when Saunders took and missed a 3.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024
  • But until Wednesday, Biden had bent over backwards to stay out of it, and worked to be sure key Western allies stayed out of it too.
    — Brian Bennett, Time, 28 June 2023
  • Double Corn Summer Chowder File this one away for summer, as the cobs play a key role in building flavor for the broth.
    — Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2024
  • The third-party group No Labels has been securing ballot lines in key states and has yet to lock in a big-name contender.
    — Ron Elving, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024
  • Weisberg, too, viewed protecting the rights to her child’s content as a key part of protecting her child.
    — Jared Bilski, Washington Post, 15 Jan. 2024
  • Choosing a kit that’s safe, fun, and reflective of their interests is key.
    — Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 22 Nov. 2023
  • In January, a key measure of housing costs ticked up over the previous month.
    — Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024
  • The Green Party is already on the ballot in two other key swing states: Michigan and Wisconsin.
    — Abby Cruz, ABC News, 22 July 2023
  • Churches and faith groups have long played a key role in the movement and were also key to getting congregations to attend the march 60 years ago.
    — Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 27 Aug. 2023
  • Ranging from emerging names to those who are household names, these key individuals utilized the red carpet to express themselves.
    — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
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key

2 of 3 verb
  • The changes to the manuscript are being keyed by the typist.
  • With the win, keyed by goalie Petr Mrázek’s 38 saves, the Hawks no longer own the worst record in the league.
    — Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2023
  • Geese will key on the point and follow it right up to the landing hole.
    — Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 6 Mar. 2023
  • Phipps was clutch and Williams protected the rim to key that win.
    — Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 27 Jan. 2024
  • If the Patriots can’t re-balance their offense, the Raiders will be able to key in and stop the run.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, sun-sentinel.com, 4 Nov. 2020
  • If any of five players are willing to take a game-winner, the defense can’t key on one of them.
    — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 27 Oct. 2021
  • The heart of it was keyed by Aguek Arop’s hustle steal that led to Micah Parrish’s fastbreak layup with 7:41 to go in the first half.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2023
  • Two things happened in the second half to key the victory.
    — Joe Magill, cleveland, 30 Nov. 2022
  • Bosco, with six months’ experience on the job, entered the garage and keyed in on the soda machine.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2023
  • One factor quietly keying the surge has been the steady play of point guard Kris Dunn.
    — John Coon, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024
  • The Dallas Cowboys might be a destination for free agents to key in on.
    — Dallas News, 1 Mar. 2023
  • Lindor’s two-run triple keyed a three-run fifth, and Hernández’s run-scoring single in the eighth ended the game.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 13 Mar. 2023
  • The senior keyed a defense that allowed only four goals.
    — Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2023
  • The Bruins keyed a run to the state title last season by slowing things down and shrewdly chewing clock late in close games.
    — Shane Hoffmann, oregonlive, 10 Mar. 2023
  • But the other to key in on, too, independents, Trump will get that with a 19-point advantage.
    — Nbc Universal, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024
  • Weather is another variable that can key fish up at any time and in any season.
    — Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 18 Apr. 2023
  • While some teams have a go-to guy that defenses must key in on, the Chargers beat opponents with unselfish play.
    — J.l. Kirven, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2022
  • Sunday can’t be the game tailback Leonard Fournette gets into a groove because the Dolphins can’t afford to key in on both the run and the passing game.
    — Omar Kelly, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Oct. 2021
  • But even with Kerr keying the press, Australia could not disrupt England’s ability to play out of the back.
    — Frank Dell'apa, BostonGlobe.com, 16 Aug. 2023
  • Parade grows in strength and clarity when the lyrics keys into Leo and Lucille’s connection and the chilling fantasies of the Old South.
    — Vulture, 16 Mar. 2023
  • Unselfish basketball keyed that spurt with three assists on the four baskets.
    — Jacob Steinberg, Baltimore Sun, 19 Jan. 2024
  • And Ford Hamp is betting that Holmes' eye for talent and experience will key an uptick in talent on the roster.
    — Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press, 15 Jan. 2021
  • The result: a 4-3 win over the Mets keyed by Lowe’s two-out, two-run go-ahead single after an intentional walk of Seager.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas News, 29 Aug. 2023
  • For two hours beginning at 8 p.m., the service will choose from a number of programs that key off of TV, different ones each evening.
    — David Bauder, ajc, 24 Jan. 2022
  • Chambless had seven points to key the third-quarter run.
    — Paul Boyd, Arkansas Online, 29 Dec. 2021
  • The customer keys in a digital order, a bowl shoots down and the ingredients are dispensed from above.
    — Laura Reiley, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2023
  • Bridges played well during the series, but the Nets as a whole struggled to generate offense, and defenders keyed in on Bridges.
    — Sopan Deb, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Even as Tucker continued to tack on yardage, the three-game losing streak to end the year at 5-7 showed how defenses could key on the Syracuse running game.
    — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2022
  • Reddit users also blamed teens for a recent trend of riders keying the QR code, so those lacking a rare key fob can’t take a bike out.
    — John Surico, Curbed, 24 July 2023
  • Emanuel completed the scoreless frame and then Correa, batting leadoff for the third straight game, homered to key a three-run first for Houston.
    — Kristie Rieken, ajc, 25 Apr. 2021
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key

3 of 3 noun
  • The key is to keep the box shut with the side flaps taped down.
    — Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2023
  • Check out the image and the key for the 2023 edition below.
    — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 12 Dec. 2023
  • How can Ford leave trucks out with keys in them in 2023?
    — Detroit Free Press, 9 June 2023
  • When the class trip was over, Cox returned to her car but the key would not work.
    — Claire Lempert, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024
  • The boys need their father’s keys, but don’t have time to fetch them.
    — Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2023
  • If you’re tempted to copy Colman’s style, the key is to keep it sleek and close to the head.
    — Georgia Day, Vogue, 30 Nov. 2023
  • Wiley’s wife hid the key and pleaded with the mob not to kill Choate.
    — Timothy Bella, Anchorage Daily News, 19 July 2023
  • Bags were dropped, keys fumbled for, and the ring was rescued.
    — Erika Veurink, Vogue, 27 Sep. 2023
  • The guide hasn’t said whether lodgings will be able to earn more than one key.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2023
  • The key, then, is to figure out what works best for you and your lifestyle.
    — Jacqueline Andriakos, Health, 22 June 2023
  • Smith caught an inbounds pass beyond the top of the key and heaved in a 28-footer to win the game.
    — Mark Inabinett | [email protected], al, 8 July 2023
  • Wheeler, who added 15 points for the Fever, and her coach both said the key for the team is to put the loss behind them.
    — Lewis Bagley, The Indianapolis Star, 4 June 2023
  • For the Jayhawks, the key will be to put Dajuan Harris on him and take the ball out of his hands.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024
  • The three men pointed a revolver at the man and stole his wallet and truck keys.
    — Aidan Wohl, The Arizona Republic, 30 June 2023
  • The key is landing something down the right-center that stays in the fairway.
    — Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2023
  • But Levin argues that the key here is a change in perspective.
    — Philip Ball, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023
  • Jim had a brief stint in the Army and then punched keys for a few years, back when data were stored on punch cards.
    — Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023
  • His vehicle was left in the middle of the road, with keys in the ignition.
    — Danny McDonald, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023
  • The key is to stay positive, scout harder, and find the spots where people aren’t.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 19 Oct. 2023
  • Going into Sunday’s game, the key for the 49ers was to pressure Goff.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024
  • The key for the Jayhawks will be to limit Baylors’ 3-point makes to less than seven.
    — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 10 Feb. 2024
  • In other snaps shared in the game, Kylie compared her and Kendall’s car keys and purses.
    — Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 14 Jan. 2024
  • The key alone, Martel said, won't give someone access to the mail in these cases.
    — Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 28 Mar. 2024
  • The piano player opened the the track with a trill of keys, leading the way for V to kick off the song’s iconic opening lines.
    — Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 16 June 2023
  • Meanwhile, Charley explained that the man who had stolen her father’s car asked her where the keys were.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 8 Feb. 2024
  • Questioning the concepts of success and failure is one of the keys of the series.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Oct. 2023
  • Most color keys will show the symbol, then the color number found on the skein of floss, then the name of that color.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
  • The key is to identify the print that fits your MO, regardless of what the trend du jour dictates.
    — Ashley W. Simpson, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024
  • The victim's wallet, vehicle, phone and house keys were taken.
    — Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024
  • Officers at the scene collected items including the playbook, the check, keys, a credit card and a necklace.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word '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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