low-key
Americanadjective
-
of reduced intensity; restrained; understated.
Judicial elections used to be low-key affairs, attracting little campaign spending.
-
(of a photograph) having chiefly dark tones, usually with little tonal contrast (distinguished from high-key).
adverb
verb (used with object)
adjective
-
having a low intensity or tone
-
restrained, subdued, or understated
-
(of a photograph, painting, etc) having a predominance of dark grey tones or dark colours with few highlights Compare high-key
Usage
What else does low-key mean? Low-key can variously mean "quiet," "restrained," "moderate," or "easygoing." It can also behave as an adverb meaning "of low or moderate intensity." Like doing something, but in a "chill" way. For instance: We're having a party at my place but keeping it low-key so the neighbors don't complain.
Etymology
Origin of low-key
First recorded in 1890–95
Explanation
Something low-key is quiet or understated. A low-key wedding might be held in a friend's backyard, with a potluck reception — it's informal, small, and subdued. A person who's low-key is modest and soft spoken, and a low-key restaurant is comfortable and unpretentious. You might prefer your family's low-key way of celebrating birthdays (a cake and a few gifts) to the way your best friend's family does it (hiring caterers, clowns, magicians, and a band). Low-key can also mean "muted in color," like the low-key tones in your favorite painting.
Vocabulary lists containing low-key
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It’s a very Spader-y performance, arch, ironic, low-key, recalling his scenes with William Shatner in “Boston Legal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
You are a couple of low-key individuals who don’t feel the need to buy flashy cars or post on Instagram about expensive vacations to justify your place in the world.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
Kao was an unusual figure among the company’s low-key naval engineers and boat aficionados.
From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026
Emma Young, deputy director of student services for health and wellbeing at Manchester Metropolitan University points out the low-key alternatives during freshers' week.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
There were a few low-key rides, and a game in which players threw tennis balls at papier-mâché likenesses of Idi Amin and Richard Nixon.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
“I feel like it’s a whole team, and this couldn’t be done without all the other players,” said Wang, who in typical fashion low-keyed his contributions.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2021
The intellectuals are logical, emotionally low-keyed, fond of debate, creative.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 24, 2021
Atmosphere A low-ceilinged and low-keyed Brooklyn tavern with few overtly Mexican gestures apart from the culinary mural on the wall.
From New York Times ● Apr. 3, 2018
Nevertheless, Harriott’s tone was more low-keyed than the one he’d adopted before the Booker T. game.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 1, 2017
From the bunk house, when he passed, came the murmur of low-keyed voices.
From Rim o' the World by Anton Otto Fischer
"We are low-keying it," Trump told news site Axios by phone Sunday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
For his part, US President Donald Trump said in an interview: "We are low-keying it."
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
If the latter is true, then Mr. Trump’s Sunday remark that “we are low-keying it” may be more sensible than his usual military bluster.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
“We are low-keying it with Iran,” he told a reporter with Axios in a phone call on Sunday, meaning that he’s just waiting for Iran to collapse.
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
But is this John holding his cards close to the vest or is Glover merely low-keying his way through this performance, as he's done in other shows?
From Salon ● Feb. 2, 2024
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