Key Definition: Common Uses and Popular Collocations

To define “key” take a look at these practical examples of how this word is typically used in different contexts. Read carefully and create something similar on your own.

There aren’t many “key” synonyms, because of the specifics of this word, but still you can familiarize yourself with related terms, which can make your written and spoken text more interesting and descriptive.

Related nouns: lock keychain keyring access card

Synonyms (contextual): none, it’s a specific noun

Common collocations: house key spare key car key

Learn more about meaningful collocations by discovering how to combine this word with nouns, verbs and adjectives.

With adjectives: lost key small key old key metal key

With verbs: find a key lose keys copy a key turn the key

With nouns (noun + noun): key ring key chain key holder key copy

The meaning of “key” is very straightforward most of the time, but on the other hand, this word is very common among different English phrases, idioms and sayings. Read them and remember to further implement them into your active vocabulary.

• The key to success — the most important factor or method for achieving something.

  Hard work and persistence are the keys to success in any career.

• Under lock and key — securely locked away; safely stored or imprisoned.

  Keep your passport and valuables under lock and key when traveling.

• Key player — an essential person in a team, organization, or situation or generally someone very important.

  Sam is a key player on our basketball team. We can’t win without him!

• Turn the key — start a vehicle; also means to make something operational or successful.

  Just turn the key and the engine will start immediately.

• Throw away the key — to imprison someone permanently or to lock something up and never access it again.

  For that serious crime, they should lock him up and throw away the key.

Check your understanding of what “key” means with our interactive, intellectual game. Applying your knowledge in practice is crucial for the development of your English skills.

Discover how you spell “key” and pronounce it correctly in other languages such as German, French and Spanish.

You already know the “key” description, so we invite you to learn some interesting details connected with this everyday item. Discover the history behind it and the surprising facts that you may have never heard of.

• Keys are over 6,000 years old.

  The initial key and lock system was created by the ancient Egyptians around 4000 BCE. These early pin-tumbler locks were operated with large wooden keys, sometimes more than two feet long.

• Most people carry 5–7 keys daily.

  Research shows that the average person carries between five and seven keys on a keychain, including house, car and office keys. Many people even keep “mystery keys” whose locks they can no longer remember.

• Locksmiths can make keys from photos.

  Skilled locksmiths can sometimes create working keys from clear photos that show the cuts and grooves. This security risk means you should avoid posting images of your keys on social media.

• Bump keys can open most locks.

  A bump key is a specially cut key that can unlock many pin-tumbler locks using a simple technique. Because of this vulnerability, many homeowners choose bump-proof or high-security locks.

Read these quotations where people present “keys” in a different light and emphasize their importance. Think about whether you agree with them or not and why?