In slang, highkey means very, really, openly: I highkey love this song means I really love this song and don't care who knows. It's the opposite of lowkey, secretly or slightly, and it's less common. People use it with friends and on social media. In an email to a colleague, in IELTS Speaking and in an essay, use really, very or absolutely instead of highkey: I really want this job.
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highkey + adjective/verb (highkey obsessed, highkey want); I'm lowkey — no, highkey + adjective; opposite: lowkey
- I highkey want to skip the meeting and go to the beach instead
- this café is highkey the best thing about our new neighbourhood
- ngl I'm highkey nervous about my driving test on Friday
What changed
First versionDear Ms Wong, I am highkey interested in the marketing position.
RevisionDear Ms Wong, I am very interested in the marketing position.
This is a cover letter to an employer, and highkey is chat slang, so the applicant sounds as if they're writing to a friend. Only highkey was replaced with the neutral very.
Lowkey nervous is slightly and quietly nervous; highkey nervous is very nervous and not hiding it. But sometimes people put them side by side as a joking self-correction: I'm lowkey — no, highkey — scared of this exam. First the speaker plays it down, then admits the truth.
Your turn
I've told everyone at work how much I love this band, I'm ___ obsessed with their new album.
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highkey — The speaker has told everyone at work how much they love the band, so they're not hiding it: highkey. Lowkey means secretly or slightly and contradicts the start of the sentence.
Write to a friend about an event you're really looking forward to: use highkey and say when it is.
I'm highkey excited about our trip to Lisbon in June, I've already planned every day!
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