behind the scenes

1 of 2

phrase

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

behind-the-scenes

2 of 2

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

Adjective

• confidential
• secret
• private

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

Adjective

The Vatican press office did not respond to a request for comment about the new book, which offers behind-the-scenes details of one of the world's most secretive elections. —Reuters, NBC news, 1 Mar. 2026

Gyllenhaal tells me, wryly — of behind-the-scenes clashes between the director and the studio. —Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026

That’s where all the behind-the-scenes work Cocroft does comes to the forefront. —Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

Thursday night’s Creative Honors celebrated the behind-the-scenes work of creatives in film, TV and documentaries, among other disciplines. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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