What Does ‘Lowkey’ Mean?

Lowkey means "a bit" or "quietly", used to soften a feeling or admit something secretly: "I lowkey want to stay home".

Moods & reactions adverb

Examples of ‘Lowkey’ in a sentence

Where does ‘Lowkey’ come from?

Older English "low-key" means understated. The slang use as a mild intensity word grew through the 2010s. The exact route is not well documented.

How to use it, and when not to

Use it to hedge a feeling. Pair it with "highkey" when you mean the opposite.

For parents and teachers

Fine around parents and teachers. Safe and clean.

Related slang

Frequently asked questions

What does Lowkey mean?

Lowkey means "a bit" or "quietly", used to soften a feeling or admit something secretly: "I lowkey want to stay home".

Where does Lowkey come from?

Older English "low-key" means understated. The slang use as a mild intensity word grew through the 2010s. The exact route is not well documented.

Is Lowkey OK to say around parents or teachers?

Fine around parents and teachers. Safe and clean.

How do you use Lowkey in a sentence?

I lowkey love that song. She lowkey did all the work.

More moods & reactions slang

Bed rot, Brat, Bruh, Cooked, Crashout, Delulu. Or browse the full A–Z / try the Slang Translator.

Sources

Definition written by VibeDex. Slang changes quickly, so this is a snapshot. Last reviewed 2026-10-23.