# key on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/key-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to focus attention on something, often in a way that is important or critical.

For teachers: to concentrate attention on; transitive phrasal verb, commonly used in academic or technical contexts to emphasize the importance of a particular aspect.

## Examples

- The teacher keyed on the main ideas of the chapter.
- During the meeting, the manager keyed on the project's budget issues.
- The researcher keyed on the anomalies in the data, leading to a breakthrough in the study.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The report keyed on the problem, but the solution was unclear." but "The report focused on the problem, but the solution was unclear." — 'key on' is less common in general writing; 'focus on' is more widely understood and appropriate in most contexts.

## Usage notes

- used with a noun indicating the focus; more formal than 'focus on'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'focus on' — 'key on' is more formal and often used in academic writing to highlight critical aspects.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.