backgrounds

noun

plural of background
1
as in backdrops
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in settings
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

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 backgrounds Milan’s welfare councilor, Lamberto Bertolé, told the AP that more investigation is needed to understand the backgrounds and motives of the young people who joined the looting. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Milan’s welfare councilor Lamberto Bertolé told the AP that more investigation is needed to understand the backgrounds and motives of the young people who joined the looting. — Colleen Barry, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 Rabeh said two of the victims were of African and North African origin, respectively, and did not provide details about the backgrounds of the other victims. — CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 The report also found that children benefit from attending school with peers who come from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, and observed the most positive effects of diversity in children from low-income and minoritized families. — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026 Black and Latino students, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities and English language learners who exist on the margins of the program. — Denise Forte, Baltimore Sun, 21 Oct. 2026 The brand shared that its designs have been worn by celebrities of various career backgrounds and that its designs have also appeared in Hollywood films and television productions. — Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 With more than a decade of experience across talent representation, development, and production, Hedgpeth most recently served as Co-Founder and Manager at Bold Media and Management, representing creatives from underrepresented backgrounds. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 Depending on their backgrounds, the company's FDE training and onboarding can take 30 to 90 days, Ramalingam said. — Barbara Booth, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backgrounds
  1. backdrops
  2. settings
  3. scenes
Noun
  • There is of course another way to hear ABBA songs sung live onstage, though sadly without Greek island backdrops or background singers wearing floppy swim fins.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • More than 100 waterfalls plunge along the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve full of dramatic backdrops for hiking and picnicking.
    — Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of backdrops
Noun
  • Norovirus is incredibly contagious and frequently reported in school settings, where children interact in close quarters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • This sleek device intelligently studies your daily temperature preferences and utilizes adaptive eco-settings to save energy automatically.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of settings
Noun
  • De Palma kept most of the novel’s key scenes intact in his adaptation, with a few changes.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • So all those main scenes and main effects and stuff were VFX and prosthetics, like the cheeks and everything.
    — Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of scenes

Browse Nearby Words

background
backgrounds
backhand
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Cite this Entry

“Backgrounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backgrounds. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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