Meaning & use
key part
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
An important role or piece that is necessary for something to succeed or work.
Grammar: Countable; usually followed by 'of' plus a noun or an -ing form.
Patterns
- a key part of something
- play a key part in something
- a key part of doing something
Trust is a key part of any friendship.
She played a key part in organizing the festival.
Regular practice is a key part of learning a language.
Word forms
| plural | key parts |
|---|
Common combinations
- a key part of something
- Good communication is a key part of teamwork.
- play a key part in something
- Local volunteers played a key part in the rescue.
- form a key part of something
- These exercises form a key part of the training program.
- an important/key part
- The final report is an important part of the project, perhaps the key part.
Synonyms and how they differ
- essential element
- This sounds more formal and technical, often used in reports and descriptions of systems.
- crucial role
- This fits when you mean a person's or thing's function in a process, not a physical piece.
Opposites
Commonly confused: key part or key role?
key part vs key role
Both are common, but 'role' is more often used for a person's function: 'She played a key role in the talks.' 'Part' can also mean a piece or section of something.
Practice
Exercise is a key part ___ staying healthy.
Choose one answer.
The fixed pattern is 'a key part of + noun/-ing': 'a key part of staying healthy.' 'For' and 'to' do not fit this pattern, and 'in' would change the structure to 'a key part in something', which is less natural here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “key part”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.