What it means
High-key is what you use when you're not even trying to play it cool. It means openly, obviously, or very much. If low-key is the quiet little side-eye confession, high-key is the full chest version. You high-key want the promotion, high-key miss your ex, high-key think that song absolutely slaps.
Usage examples
"I high-key need a holiday, I have been running on coffee for two weeks."
"She high-key loves that cheesy show but pretends it is on by accident."
"I'm high-key jealous you got tickets, mine sold out in like two seconds."
"He was high-key panicking before the interview but tried to act unfazed."
Where it comes from
High-key grew out of online slang as the opposite of low-key. Once low-key got big on Twitter, Tumblr, and everyday internet chat in the 2010s, people started using high-key for the same kind of confession but louder, less hidden, and with way less chill.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
