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
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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 actually been a lot of fun,” Morris adds, low-key and affable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
There has not been footage from the ceremony, which is being kept low-key.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
Rezaei replaces Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, 72, a low-key yet longtime high-ranking intelligence operative, as secretary of the council.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The low-key, low-pressure weekend is Gen Z’s preferred option, Harris Poll researchers said Wednesday.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
Though faithful to their religion, the Grossingers were midwestern Jews, low-key and assimilationist.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
“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
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
Or maybe it will be Pharrell Williams, who low-keyed his way to scoring a much-coveted singer Monday, a vocalist Levine called “the greatest singer in the show’s history and the most beautiful.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2015
In the book, Cook comes across as low-keyed, easygoing and, toward Trumbo, a bit worshipful, but in the late 1970s he also gave off a slight hipster vibe.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 30, 2015
Affable, low-keyed, and very small of stature, Jacob displays a wry wit while telling how he began his career as a painter, cartoonist and illustrator before turning to full-time writing in 1956.
From 100 New Yorkers of the 1970s by Max Millard
"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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
