high-key

high-key

English

A high-key photograph of a paper roll.

Etymology

high +‎ key

Adjective

high-key (comparative more high-key, superlative most high-key)

1. (art, photography) Characterised by light tones and absence of shadow.
   • 1942 November, Victor Keppler, “Key to Good Pictures”, in Popular Photography, ISSN 1542-0337, page 29:

     Details are tremendously important in composing an outstanding high-key photograph.

Adverb

high-key (comparative more high-key, superlative most high-key)

1. (colloquial) In a conspicuous way.
   • 2022 January 31, BIG XO (@Raveyxoxo_), Twitter‎:

     High key no longer wanna tell anyone anything that’s going on with me.

Antonyms

• low-key

Coordinate terms

• low-key
• mid-key

Further reading

• high-key on Wikipedia.Wikipedia