background

noun

ˈbak-ˌ(g)rau̇nd How to pronounce background (audio)
Definition of backgroundnext
1
as in backdrop
the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed they got married on a mountain top with the sunset as background

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in setting
the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set the background of that movie is the World War II era

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word background distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of background are environment, milieu, mise-en-scène, and setting. While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

Where would environment be a reasonable alternative to background?

While the synonyms environment and background are close in meaning, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

When is it sensible to use milieu instead of background?

The synonyms milieu and background are sometimes interchangeable, but milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

In what contexts can mise-en-scène take the place of background?

Although the words mise-en-scène and background have much in common, mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

When could setting be used to replace background?

The meanings of setting and background largely overlap; however, setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of background Like their fictional characters, Bacon, 66, and Nettles, 50, boast deep musical backgrounds as well. —People Staff, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Comprehensive Screening Processes Organizations have implemented multistage interviews, skill assessments and background checks to ensure top-tier hires. —Casey Marquette, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 Like Posey, manager Bob Melvin’s background is as a catcher. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025 Meanwhile, all these great locations and details are obscured constantly, muddled into blurry backgrounds. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for background
Recent Examples of Synonyms for background
  1. backdrop
  2. setting
  3. scene
Noun
  • The play tells the story of Ernaux’s life set against the backdrop of world events, beginning with her childhood in the nineteen-forties and ending in the mid-two-thousands.
    — Anna Russell, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Ghosts of Georgia’s Past: At Gagosian, the precociously successful Tyler Mitchell evokes images of slavery against the backdrop of his native landscape.
    — Hilarie M. Sheets, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of backdrop
Noun
  • But North of North draws strength from the specificity of its unusual-for-TV setting.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, the book’s epilogue jumps ahead to 2195 and reveals that the main narrative of the novel is a transcription of audio tapes discovered long after the fall of Gilead that are being presented in an academic setting.
    — Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of setting
Noun
  • We’re really primed by this first scene to interpret the rest of the novel as being about interpretation on some level.
    — Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Missing from the scene: the court’s three conservative leaning justices.
    — Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of scene

Browse Nearby Words

backfiring
background
backgrounds
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Background.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/background. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on background

Nglish: Translation of background for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All