If you say that something is low-key, you mean that it is on a small scale rather than involving a lot of activity or being made to seem impressive or important.
The wedding will be a very low-key affair.
He wanted to keep the meetings low-key.
Synonyms: subdued, quiet, restrained, muted More Synonyms of low-key
low-key in British English
or low-keyed
adjective
1.
having a low intensity or tone
2.
restrained, subdued, or understated
3.
(of a photograph, painting, etc) having a predominance of dark grey tones or dark colours with few highlights
Compare high-key
low-key in American English
(ˈloʊˈki)
adjective
of low intensity, tone, etc.; subdued or restrained
: also ˈlow-ˈkeyed
Examples of 'low-key' in a sentence
low-key
They certainly did not treat it as a low-key affair.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Perhaps her low-key tone is reflected in her work.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The environment often feels low-key and comfortable.
Brumberg, Elaine Take Care of Your Skin (1990)
We had to keep it quite low-key because it was being filmed.
The Sun (2016)
Since then she has been rather more low-key.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet this role requires something more low-key and repressed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They clearly prefer a much more low-key approach.
The Sun (2012)
Our first meeting was a low-key affair.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Something low-key that will keep its trap shut and its ribbons in check.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Other firms take a decidedly low-key approach.
Christianity Today (2000)
We want to keep it low-key.
The Sun (2009)
The resort keeps things seductively low-key.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It'll be a lot more low-key than a wedding.
The Sun (2013)
Verbier is a small, low-key resort with a lively nightlife.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This catalogue now seems low-key.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
All the models wore trainers, which made the collection feel pleasingly low-key.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It's his lined face rather than his low-key vocals that now draw the attention.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The first new track from the band in more than 20 years is a low-key affair.
The Sun (2016)
So instead his publicity trip to Timbuktu was due to begin with a rather low-key crossing on the ferry.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
A lucrative world tour might be out of the question, but what about something more low-key?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The sides fielded by both managers for this contest set the tone for a low-key game in front of a crowd 6,000 short of capacity.
The Sun (2007)
Her oddly beautiful low-key folk songs seem to occupy a shadow world between life and death, speaking of tragic women and their doomed entanglements.
The Sun (2007)
In other languages
low-key
British English: low-key ADJECTIVE
If you say that something is low-key, you mean that it is on a small scale rather than involving a lot of activity or being made to seem impressive or important.