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
Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
Swifties have been chomping at the bit for the documentary showing the behind-the-scenes of the iconic Eras Tour.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
The show's first episode lifts the curtain on Swift's private world throughout the Eras Tour, exploring some of the behind-the-scenes highs and lows the superstar faced.
—Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
While known to many journalists who cover MM6 and review its runway shows in Milan and its pre-collections over Zoom, Salonen is a behind-the-scenes talent.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for behind the scenes
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Adjective
But what politicians say publicly shapes the world at least as much as behind-the-scenes chummery does.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
Swifties have been chomping at the bit for the documentary showing the behind-the-scenes of the iconic Eras Tour.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 Dec. 2025
The show's first episode lifts the curtain on Swift's private world throughout the Eras Tour, exploring some of the behind-the-scenes highs and lows the superstar faced.
—Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 12 Dec. 2025
While known to many journalists who cover MM6 and review its runway shows in Milan and its pre-collections over Zoom, Salonen is a behind-the-scenes talent.
—Miles Socha, Footwear News, 12 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 19 Dec. 2025.
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