low-key

Low-key means “a little,” “secretly” or “quietly.” People use it to soften an admission or opinion: “I low-key want to stay home tonight” means “honestly, I kind of want to stay home.”

What does low-key mean?

Low-key has two related slang uses. As an adverb, it softens or hedges: “that song is low-key good” means it’s better than you’d expect, or that you like it more than you’d admit. It can also mean “secretly”: “I low-key have a crush on him.”

As an adjective, it keeps its standard meaning: relaxed and understated. “A low-key birthday” is a small, quiet one.

How to use low-key

• “I low-key miss high school.”
• “This pizza is low-key the best in town.”
• “Low-key, I didn’t understand the movie at all.”
• “Let’s keep it low-key, just pizza and a movie.”

Low-key vs. high-key

High-key is the opposite: openly, totally, no hiding it. “I low-key like her” is a quiet admission. “I high-key like her” means everyone can know.

Where low-key comes from

“Low-key” as an adjective meaning restrained is old: Merriam-Webster dates it to 1897. The slang adverb, meaning “in a moderate or quiet way,” is much newer, with Merriam-Webster dating it to 2010. It’s often written “lowkey” or “low key.”

Related terms

• High-key: openly, totally.
• Ngl: not gonna lie.
• Tbh: to be honest.
• Deadass: seriously.

See more terms like this in our Gen Z slang dictionary.