in the background
phrase
: in a position that avoids attracting attention
He was a shy man who always tried to keep/stay in the background.
Examples of in the background in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are people in the Bowie House bar sipping whiskey and having a heart to heart, there are people playing pool in the Billet Room, and there are couples enjoying an intimate moment in the Mulberry Room while the fire crackles in the background.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 July 2026
Video footage of the dogs at Dingo Doggies Campus shows the pups walking on treadmills, training in the gym and relaxing on beds while booms and fireworks sounds can be heard in the background.
—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
That to me is scary because most people would never think to check whether their TV box is sending traffic in the background.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
The show features an extravagant fireworks display held in New York City over either the East or Hudson Rivers, with landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building often seen in the background.
—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the background
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Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 July 2026
Video footage of the dogs at Dingo Doggies Campus shows the pups walking on treadmills, training in the gym and relaxing on beds while booms and fireworks sounds can be heard in the background.
—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
3 July 2026
That to me is scary because most people would never think to check whether their TV box is sending traffic in the background.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
3 July 2026
The show features an extravagant fireworks display held in New York City over either the East or Hudson Rivers, with landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building often seen in the background.
—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the background
Cite this Entry
“In the background.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20background. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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