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 of behind-the-scenes

• confidential
• secret
• private

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

Here are 10 behind-the-scenes secrets from the making of the film, in honor of the 35th anniversary of its release. —Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 16 Nov. 2025

Dawson, who died in 2012, acted as the orchestrator both on-stage and behind-the-scenes in the first thriller film. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 Nov. 2025

Inside the ThredUp warehouse, where CNBC got a behind-the-scenes look. —Lisa Setyon,jeniece Pettitt, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025

More practically, its novel design will allow visitors to enjoy the landscaping or even to peek backstage at the busy behind-the-scenes areas of the opera house. —New Atlas, 14 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for behind-the-scenes

• catecholamines
• phenothiazines
• alkenes
• amines
• benzenes
• canteens
• convenes
• cosines
• cuisines
• eumenes
• hellenes
• latrines