in key

Idioms  

1. In harmony with other factors, in a matching style, as in This furniture is perfectly in key with the overall design. This term uses key in the musical sense, that is, “a scheme of notes related to one another.” The antonym, out of key, means “not in harmony with other factors,” or “unsuitable,” as in He is out of key with his time. [c. 1900]

---

Example Sentences

BBC Verify looks at the record of his time in government in key areas from immigration to energy bills since he took office in July 2024.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

Mango traders told AFP they expect export sales to fall at least 30 percent this year due to dampened demand in key markets, including the Gulf, and soaring shipping costs.

From Barron's • Jun. 21, 2026

This technological gold rush has propelled economic momentum in key parts of the global economy even as the oil squeeze hurt others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

But Allen, typically, was not fazed, saying his show bested the competition in key markets and was more comparable with the same time period last May before Colbert’s post-cancellation victory lap.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

When the researchers scanned the subjects’ brains, they discovered that this tiny fraction of people seemed to have less activity going on in key portions of the frontal lobe.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel