1 B2 neutral
To press and hold a key on a keyboard or musical instrument.
"Key down the Shift key before clicking to select multiple files."
separable
key down
C1 neutral separable transitive
To press and hold a key, or to lower the pitch/intensity of something.
In plain English
Hold a key down, or make something quieter or lower in music.
What does "key down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
To lower the musical key or pitch of a piece of audio or music.
"The producer keyed down the track by two semitones to suit the singer's range."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To press a key in a downward direction.
Actually means
Hold a key down, or make something quieter or lower in music.
Usage tip
Used in technical contexts (keyboards, music software) to mean pressing a key continuously. In music production, it can mean lowering the key of a track. Rare in everyday speech.
Words that pair with "key down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
pitch note volume tone key button
How to conjugate "key down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
key down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
keys down
he/she/it
Past simple
keyed down
yesterday
Past participle
keyed down
have + pp
-ing form
keying down
continuous
Hear "key down" in the wild
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Other ways to say "key down"
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