key figure
12
3.8
- noun
:
figura clave
- They were called political technologists and they were the key figures behind President Putin.
- become a key figure
- few key figures
- several key figures
Even though he was Argentine, he became a very key figure in, in, in the Castro regime.
- Even though he was Argentine, he became a very key figure in, in, in the Castro regime.
- Now let's get a bit of backgrounds on the key figures in the story, starting with LLP himself.
- But also there's a whole bunch of allegations now that are swirling around about different key figures within the Dawa gang.
- I think there's decent discussions in it of the other key figures, including, you know, why some people think that they're particularly good.
- He's been he he was a very instrumental key figure in my life at that time.
- Toby, if you're listening, he is one of the key figures in the effect of altruism movement.
- So he is really a key figure in a historical development in science fiction called the new wave of, of science fiction.
- The, the heretic is the key figure, the, the person who says to pick a crass and crude example.
- Judith Butler's is a key figure in this.
Examples
-
My mother is obviously a key figure in my life, and so is the boy's mother.
Blog text (32) -
The key figure, however, happened to be the prime minister's son, Ahmet Ozal.
Academic text (2000) -
There he becomes a key figure in the Irish struggle for independence.
-
"The kids are the key figures in the success of a school composting program," she says.
Academic text (1996) -
Jacob's mother was the key figure in his life.
Fiction book (1995) -
The women have emerged as key figures in the scandal that cost Petraeus his job.
Blog text (11) -
Taylor introduces Harry Hopkins, the key figure in Roosevelt's plan to get Americans working again.
Blog text (12) -
The steady erosion of Communist Party power continued into 1991 as key figures such as Boris Yeltsin left the party.
Academic text (1991) -
Another key figure is Prajogo Pangestu, the largest timber operator in Asia, who controls 5.5 million hectares.
Academic text (2000) -
Tonight, you will hear from some of the key figures in this case.
Synonyms
50
1.8
A person whose actions or words change what happens for many people
40
3.2
An important person who helps decide what happens in a group
29
3.8
A person or company that has a lot of power in a field
28
6.9
A person who others trust most in a group or situation
1
6.0
A person who plays a very important role in a team or project
Antonyms
How Important
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'an important or central person' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'key' (important) with 'figure' (a prominent individual). This adjective+noun composition is a common, literal pattern in English and in many other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Key figure comes from the simple image of a key as something that opens or controls and a figure as a person. Imagine one person holding the key to a plan or standing at the centre, so they 'unlock' what others cannot and the phrase means 'an important' or 'central' person.