key to

phrasal verb

keyed to; keying to; keys to

chiefly US

: 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.

: 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

Recent Examples on the Web The key to a successful shoot, though, is reminiscent of dry ground goose hunting. —

M.d. Johnson, Field & Stream, 11 July 2024 Chief among the Collective’s strengths is research and data, key to wooing brands and partners, and building effective marketing campaigns. —

Carole Horst, Variety, 11 July 2024 What was the key to making that work for you, that job? —

Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 July 2024 Early treatment is key to improving survival rates, and that hinges on early diagnosis. —

Katia Hetter, CNN, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for key to

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'key to.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.