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
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, audiences got a firsthand look at how intense their disagreements could become via a behind-the-scenes featurette.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
Ahead, a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Thorisson’s latest dinner party.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2025
The reaction to the clips has been mixed, with not everyone totally aware of the AI nature of the behind-the-scenes footage.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for behind the scenes
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Adjective
The longest-serving chief usher at the White House shares behind-the-scenes memories of past presidents.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 7 Dec. 2025
Earlier this year, audiences got a firsthand look at how intense their disagreements could become via a behind-the-scenes featurette.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Dec. 2025
Ahead, a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Thorisson’s latest dinner party.
—Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2025
The reaction to the clips has been mixed, with not everyone totally aware of the AI nature of the behind-the-scenes footage.
—Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
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 11 Dec. 2025.
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