key to

verb

keyed to; keying to; keys to
chiefly US
1
: to make (something) suitable for (a particular use or type of person)
I try to key my lectures to my audience.
often used as (be) keyed to
The educational program is keyed to the needs of working women.
2
: to change (something) in a way that is closely related to (something else)
usually used as (be) keyed to
The amount of money they receive is keyed to the rate of inflation.

Examples of key to in a Sentence

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Wrapping Stella Artois in the trappings of the series was key to the alliance, says Marcel Marcondes, global CMO of Anheuser Busch InBev, via email. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 The key to Nvidia earnings is a healthy revenue beat, strong guidance, and perhaps a significant share repurchase program announcement. Jeff Marks, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 Parton and my mom taught that literacy was key to succeeding — Mami regularly took us to the library, while Dolly created a nonprofit that provides free books to young children, including Spanish-language options. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Practice and repetition are keys to learning, particularly for developing math skills. Nicole Harris, Parents, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for key to

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Cite this Entry

“Key to.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/key%20to. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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