low-key
/ˌloʊˈkiː/Calm, quiet, and not meant to attract attention. A low-key event or person does not show off or make a big deal out of things.
- We had a low-key birthday dinner — just family, no big party.
- She has a low-key style; she never wears flashy clothes.
- The launch was deliberately low-key to avoid media attention.
Used informally before a verb or adjective to mean 'kind of', 'secretly', or 'a little bit'. This is a modern slang use, common in casual speech and social media.
- I low-key want to skip the meeting today.
- She's low-key the best cook in our office.
- He low-key panicked when the boss called his name.
Adinary Nuance
Originally, "low-key" only worked as an adjective describing something calm and understated — "a low-key gathering." But since roughly 2015, it has taken on a second life as a slang adverb, used to soften or hedge a statement: "I low-key love this show" means something like "I kind of secretly love this." This adverbial use is extremely common on social media and in spoken English among younger speakers globally, but most traditional dictionaries still only list the adjective sense. Using "low-key" as an adverb in formal writing or professional emails would sound out of place — save it for casual conversations and texts.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- kín đáo
- Spanish
- bajo perfil
- Chinese
- 低调
- Japanese
- 控えめ
- Korean
- 은근한
Etymology
Derived from the musical term "low key," referring to a musical key that is soft and muted in tone. Entered everyday English as an adjective in the early 20th century to mean restrained or understated; the adverbial slang use emerged prominently in American English in the 2010s.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Can 'low-key' be used as an adverb?
- Yes, in modern informal English it can. Saying 'I low-key love this' means 'I kind of secretly love this.' This use is very common in casual speech and online, but it is not yet accepted in formal writing.
- What is the difference between 'low-key' and 'subtle'?
- 'Subtle' describes something that is not immediately obvious and takes skill to notice. 'Low-key' describes something that is deliberately calm, quiet, or not showy. A subtle joke is hard to catch; a low-key joke is just relaxed and understated.
- Is 'low-key' appropriate in a professional email or formal writing?
- The adjective use ('a low-key approach') is acceptable in professional contexts. But the slang adverb use ('I low-key agree with you') is too casual for formal writing or business emails.
- Is 'low-key' the same as 'chill'?
- They overlap but are not the same. 'Chill' usually describes a relaxed mood or a relaxed person. 'Low-key' describes something that is quiet, understated, or not making a big scene. You can have a low-key party that is also very chill, but 'chill' sounds more personal and emotional.