key

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈkiː/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ki/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(kē)

Inflections of 'key' (n): npl: keys
Inflections of 'key' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
keys
v 3rd person singular
keying
v pres p
keyed
v past
keyed
v past p

Collocations for "key"


Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "key" in context.

WordReference English Collocations © 2026

key

ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.
n
  1. the [house, car, office] keys
  2. the keys to the [house]
  3. the master key (to)
  4. an old skeleton key
  5. a [wooden, iron, steel, electronic] key
  6. [type in, enter] the [security, access] key
  7. turned the key to [open, lock] the door
  8. have the wrong key
  9. that's not the right key
  10. the key that opens the [door, gate, lock]
  11. the keys to the [car, office, prison cell]
  12. have you seen my keys?
  13. where did I put my keys?
  14. do you have the keys?
  15. [there is, has, keeps] a spare key [under, behind, on top of]
  16. scratched the key along the [car, chassis, surface]
  17. the key doesn't [fit, turn]
  18. [lost, forgot] my keys (at)
  19. [have, get] (the) keys cut
  20. get [copies, a copy, duplicates] made of the keys
  21. [have, leave] a copy of the keys
  22. press the [phone, computer] key
  23. [hit, pressed, typed] the wrong key
  24. the [star, hash, mute, call] key
  25. is the key to [success, winning, a happy life]
  26. is the key to [finding, getting, obtaining]
  27. is the key to all of this
  28. [exercise, practice] books with key
  29. music: (in) the key of [C, G flat, A minor]
  30. [singing, playing] out of key
  31. [singing] off key
n as adj
  1. off-key singing
  2. out-of-key [singing, playing]
  3. a key [fob, chain, cutter]
adj
  1. is the key ingredient [in, to]
  2. the key features of
  3. is a key part of
  4. plays a key [part, role] in
  5. the key [points, arguments]
  6. the key points [for, against, supporting]
  7. are the key [issues, areas, factors, elements] (of)
  8. are several key [issues]
  9. one of the key reasons (that)
  10. is one of the key [players, figures] (in)
  11. are many key players in the [market, sector]
  12. has a key role in the [organization, project]
  13. key [criteria, statistics] for (SEO)
  14. has many key skills in
  15. [participation, enjoyment] is key
  16. are key in [developing, producing, finishing, improving]
  17. are key to the [development] of
v
  1. keyed his [car, truck]
  2. key in your [password, details]
  3. keyed my [password] in
  4. key in on [him, the speaker, his ideas]
  5. key a message to
additional examples
  1. keyed his [car, truck]
  2. the [house, car, office] keys
  3. off-key singing
  4. is the key ingredient [in, to]
  5. key in your [password, details]
  6. the keys to the [house]
  7. out-of-key [singing, playing]
  8. the key features of
  9. keyed my [password] in
  10. the master key (to)
  11. a key [fob, chain, cutter]
  12. is a key part of
  13. key in on [him, the speaker, his ideas]
  14. an old skeleton key
  15. plays a key [part, role] in
  16. key a message to
  17. a [wooden, iron, steel, electronic] key
  18. the key [points, arguments]
  19. [type in, enter] the [security, access] key
  20. the key points [for, against, supporting]
  21. turned the key to [open, lock] the door
  22. are the key [issues, areas, factors, elements] (of)
  23. have the wrong key
  24. are several key [issues]
  25. that's not the right key
  26. one of the key reasons (that)
  27. the key that opens the [door, gate, lock]
  28. is one of the key [players, figures] (in)
  29. the keys to the [car, office, prison cell]
  30. are many key players in the [market, sector]
  31. have you seen my keys?
  32. has a key role in the [organization, project]
  33. where did I put my keys?
  34. key [criteria, statistics] for (SEO)
  35. do you have the keys?
  36. has many key skills in
  37. [there is, has, keeps] a spare key [under, behind, on top of]
  38. [search for, use] keywords
  39. scratched the key along the [car, chassis, surface]
  40. [participation, enjoyment] is key
  41. the key doesn't [fit, turn]
  42. are key in [developing, producing, finishing, improving]
  43. [lost, forgot] my keys (at)
  44. are key to the [development] of
  45. [have, get] (the) keys cut
  46. get [copies, a copy, duplicates] made of the keys
  47. [have, leave] a copy of the keys
  48. press the [phone, computer] key
  49. [hit, pressed, typed] the wrong key
  50. the [star, hash, mute, call] key
  51. is the key to [success, winning, a happy life]
  52. is the key to [finding, getting, obtaining]
  53. is the key to all of this
  54. [exercise, practice] books with key
  55. music: (in) the key of [C, G flat, A minor]
  56. [singing, playing] out of key
  57. [singing] off key
'key' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
B - C - E - F - actor - ally - arm - arrow - aspect - attitude - attribute - belief - click - constraint - contention - counter - criterion - defense - delete - depress - dictionary - discipline - discrepancy - dismissal - distinction - duplicate - entry - erase - factor - fencing - fish - fumble - g - grievance - gutter - hash - highlight - hold - imprint - insert - lock - locker - major - maker - manufacture - map - master - metal - mining - minor

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