behind the scenes
1 of 2phrase
1
: out of public view
also
: in secret
2
: in a position to see the hidden workings
… taken behind the scenes and told just how in fact the actual government … has operated …—
William Clark
William Clark
be·hind-the-scenes
bi-ˈhīnd-ṯẖə-ˈsēnz 
bē-
1
: being or working out of public view or in secret
behind-the-scenes lobbying for more money
a behind-the-scenes player
2
: revealing or reporting the hidden workings
a behind-the-scenes account
a behind-the-scenes glimpse
Examples of behind the scenes in a Sentence
Adjective
a tell-all book about the behind-the-scenes negotiations that got him the vice presidential nomination
behind-the-scenes negotiations that resulted in the hostages being released unharmed
Recent Examples on the Web
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
The April 12 show will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at production and revisit interview highlights.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Before the splashy announcement came years of behind-the-scenes grunt work.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Its behind-the-scenes work includes calibrating and measuring test equipment for spacecraft, including those being used in the Artemis program.
—Brandon Lingle, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behind the scenes
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Adjective
To celebrate the opening, Nat Geo explorer Bertie Gregory made an appearance at the pop-up, introducing the documentary to an audience of fans, influencers and celebrities as well as highlighting the role of bees in the ecosystem and sharing some behind-the-scenes insights from the two-part series.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 10 Apr. 2026
The April 12 show will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at production and revisit interview highlights.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Before the splashy announcement came years of behind-the-scenes grunt work.
—Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Its behind-the-scenes work includes calibrating and measuring test equipment for spacecraft, including those being used in the Artemis program.
—Brandon Lingle, Austin American Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for behind the scenes
Cite this Entry
“Behind the scenes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behind%20the%20scenes. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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