adj
keyed
keed
adj
1
Fitted with a mechanism, such as a groove or ridge, that locks parts together or restricts movement.
"The shaft is keyed so the gear can't spin loose."
2
Informal: tense, excited, or wound up, often before something stressful or exciting.
"She was totally keyed up before her big presentation."
How to Use Keyed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither mechanically locked into place, or (informally, usually as "keyed up") nervous and on edge with anticipation.
Common mistake
"Keyed up" describes nervous excitement, not anger — for that, people usually say "worked up" or "wound up".
Common pairings
keyed up
keyed shaft
Word Forms
more keyed comparative, most keyed superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “keyed”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The shaft is _____ so the gear can't spin loose.