key: meaning and words from its letters
3 letters · 10 letter points · starts with K · ends with Y
Meaning of key
noun
- countable
An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed).
Example: This key is to the backdoor.
- countable
An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed). A card or fob that electronically signals a lock to open.
Example: My hotel room key is a card.
- countable, figuratively
An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed). A piece of information (e.g., a password or passphrase) used to encode or decode a message or messages.
- Internet, countable
An object designed to open and close a lock or to activate or deactivate something, especially a length of metal inserted into a narrow opening on the lock to which it is matched (keyed). A password restricting access to an IRC channel.
Listed forms: keys.
Source: Wiktionary — key.
adj
- not-comparable, usually
Indispensable, supremely important.
Example: He is the key player on his soccer team.
- not-comparable, usually
Important, salient.
Example: She makes several key points.
Listed forms: keyer, keyest.
Source: Wiktionary — key.
verb
To fit (a lock) with a key.
To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
To mark or indicate with a symbol indicating membership in a class.
To depress (a telegraph key).
Listed forms: keys, keying, keyed.
Source: Wiktionary — key.
Adapted from Wiktionary contributors via Kaikki.org. Selected senses and forms; quotations omitted. Definition text is CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms by meaning
Words are grouped by sense, so they are not necessarily interchangeable in every context. Search synonyms for key.
adjective
serving as an essential component
noun
any of 24 major or minor diatonic scales that provide the tonal framework for a piece of music
noun
a winged often one-seed indehiscent fruit as of the ash or elm or maple
- samara
- key fruit
noun
a coral reef off the southern coast of Florida
- cay
- Florida key
Open English WordNet Team, 2025, derived from Princeton University WordNet; selected synonym groups under CC BY 4.0. Source · OEWN notice · Princeton notice.
Is key in our word lists?
| Word list | Status |
|---|---|
| American English | Found |
| British English | Found |
| Extended English | Found |
These are spelling-list matches, not official game validity checks. Check the rules and dictionary used by your game.
Letter-value score of key
K(5) + E(1) + Y(4) = 10 points.
This is a sum of letter values without board bonuses or word multipliers. A blank tile is worth zero: subtract the value of each letter supplied by a blank. The score does not establish game validity. Full letter-value table.
Anagrams of key
0 other standard-list words use exactly these letters, including repeated letters.
No other single-word anagram was found in our standard list.
Shorter words from key
1 shorter standard-list words can be made using no letter more often than it occurs in key. Showing up to 24, longest first.