backdrop

noun

back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp How to pronounce backdrop (audio)
Synonyms of backdropnext
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.
Set in the '90s against the backdrop of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, Derry Girls follows the adventures of five Catholic school outsiders who can’t seem to keep themselves out of mischief. Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Apr. 2026 That was the backdrop Sunday, when the lineup card looked like a preseason list. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026 In fact, there may be no better backdrop against which to observe Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 This is all happening against the backdrop of new turmoil within his Cabinet here in Washington. NBC news, 5 Apr. 2026 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

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Cite this Entry

“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backdrop. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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

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