key up

verb

To raise (the whole ring of an arch) off its centering, by driving in the keystone forcibly.

Opposite
key down
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Meanings

verbkey up (third-person singular simple present keys up, present participle keying up, simple past and past participle keyed up)

present singular third person keys up · participle present keying up · participle past keyed up · past keyed up

  1. transitivearchitectureTo raise (the whole ring of an arch) off its centering, by driving in the keystone forcibly.
  2. transitiveentertainmentTo raise the pitch of.
  3. figurativelytransitiveTo produce nervous tension in (someone).
  4. figurativelytransitiveTo raise the intensity, excitement, tension, etc., of.

    Antonyms: key down

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo raise the intensity, excitement, tension, etc., of.

Opposite
key down
Cite this entry
APA

key up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20up

MLA

“key up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20up. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “key up,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/key%20up.

Source: key up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.