backdrop

noun

back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp How to pronounce backdrop (audio)
1
: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage
2
backdrop transitive verb

Examples of backdrop in a Sentence

The mountains provided a perfect backdrop for the wedding photos. The novel unfolds against a backdrop of war. The city provides the backdrop for the love story.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Still, against this backdrop, locals looked for ways to lift the spirits of those affected by the Walmart tragedy. Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 2 Aug. 2025 Forced to team up as partners, the series tackles universal family dynamics against a global backdrop of spies, action, and humor. EW.com, 2 Aug. 2025 The imperative for a figure like Brown is to portray a good man in a crumbling world, to maintain a polished, upstanding character against the backdrop of a rusting empire. Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2025 His comments come against the backdrop of Imax riding the premium gold rush at the local multiplex by continuing to roll out Hollywood movies shot with Imax cameras, and backed by the marketing muscle of the major studios. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for backdrop

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backdrop was in 1866

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backdrop. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

backdrop

noun
back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp How to pronounce backdrop (audio)
1
: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage
2

More from Merriam-Webster on backdrop

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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