behind-the-scenes

adjective

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

Synonyms

• confidential
• esoteric
• hush-hush
• hushed
• inside
• intimate
• nonpublic
• private
• privy
• secret

Examples of behind-the-scenes in a Sentence

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

The large, hardback and bright pink book covered the entirety of Coppola’s career in film using her own personal collection of photographs, early development work, reference collages, influences, annotated scripts and unseen behind-the-scenes documentation. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 21 May 2024

Inside Look stories give Star-Telegram subscribers exclusive sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes reporting. —Emily Brindley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 May 2024

Advertisement Get our high school sports newsletter Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2024

No Trump return | Costa Rica’s example Columnist Marc Thiessen ignores almost all behind-the-scenes work done by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, especially to pass military aid to Ukraine. —Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 20 May 2024

In fact, behind-the-scenes arguments might take place. —Georgia Nicols, The Denver Post, 17 May 2024

Combs posted a series of behind-the-scenes pics to his Instagram. —Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 16 May 2024

After a lengthy and largely behind-the-scenes search, Tirrell Paxton, a deputy at the county’s Office of the Independent Inspector General, was formally unveiled as a special selection committee’s pick for the office’s new leader. —A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2024

Moving beyond what was visible on the platform, the show offers insight into the behind-the-scenes business of the platform with analysis from TJ Adeshola, Twitter’s previous head of Global Content Partnerships and God-is Rivera, former global director of Culture and Community. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1