backdrop
noun
back·drop
ˈbak-ˌdräp 
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
The curators supply a historical backdrop, therefore, but discreetly, and without distracting us from Wright’s poetic originality.
—
Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Sweeney asks in the commercial, posing in denim shorts against a blue sky backdrop, while smiling and playing with her hair.
—Shad Powers, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The film unfolds against the backdrop of Haiti’s escalating crisis, where armed gangs have seized control of large parts of Port-au-Prince.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
The Art Deco features—the sconces, the sleek sofas, the credenzas, the tiled fireplace—all make a truly impressive backdrop for some exquisite people watching.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
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Julian Bell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Sweeney asks in the commercial, posing in denim shorts against a blue sky backdrop, while smiling and playing with her hair.
—Shad Powers, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The film unfolds against the backdrop of Haiti’s escalating crisis, where armed gangs have seized control of large parts of Port-au-Prince.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 25 Apr. 2026
The Art Deco features—the sconces, the sleek sofas, the credenzas, the tiled fireplace—all make a truly impressive backdrop for some exquisite people watching.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
Cite this Entry
“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backdrop. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
backdrop
noun
back·drop
ˈbak-ˌdräp
1
: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage
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