What does 'highkey' mean? Get to know the Gen-Z lingo and how to use it.

It's hard to keep up with all the slang that people use these days. Thanks to social media, there are so many different examples. To some, these shortened words or jumbles of letters might appear meaningless. But to others, they have made communication easier and quicker.

People have always adapted speech throughout history. For instance, no one says "over yonder" anymore. Now, we say "over there."

So, what about if someone says something is "highkey" good? What does that mean? No need to grab a dictionary, USA TODAY has got you covered.

What does 'highkey' mean?

While "lowkey" describes something subtle or modest, "highkey" refers to the opposite. The modifier is used to describe things that are obvious, over-the-top or intense.

Using "highkey" to describe something is similar to using "really," "a lot," "very" or "much." For example, "I'm highkey hungry" is similar to saying "I'm very hungry."

Highkey can describe just about anything, such as your thoughts on a new movie: "It was highkey bad," or "It was really bad." If something is "highkey," it is overt. It is done in a way that calls attention to make something known.

The slang can also be stylized as "high-key."

How to use 'highkey'

Here are some examples of how to use "highkey":

• "I highkey think he's annoying."
• "Beyoncé's Renaissance tour was the best concert I've ever been to highkey."
• "The 'Trolls World Tour' soundtrack is highkey amazing."

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