in the background
idiom
: in a position that avoids attracting attention
He was a shy man who always tried to keep/stay in the background.
Examples of in the background in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Further clips show the leopard moving through deep snow in an outdoor area, with trees and boulders in the background.
—
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Above the desk was a poster of Faulkner in profile, standing outdoors, a white clapboard house in the background, two small white dogs with black ears and noses by his feet.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Stay overnight for the full experience, or just visit for the evening, sipping a cocktail at the New York Grill & Bar and taking in the city views from the 52nd floor as jazz plays softly in the background.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Her Zelig-like ability to be everywhere history was happening, and her friendships with everyone from Allen Ginsberg to Joan Baez (who sings with the teenage Faithfull while Bob Dylan types away in the background in Don’t Look Back).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
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Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
Above the desk was a poster of Faulkner in profile, standing outdoors, a white clapboard house in the background, two small white dogs with black ears and noses by his feet.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Stay overnight for the full experience, or just visit for the evening, sipping a cocktail at the New York Grill & Bar and taking in the city views from the 52nd floor as jazz plays softly in the background.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2026
Her Zelig-like ability to be everywhere history was happening, and her friendships with everyone from Allen Ginsberg to Joan Baez (who sings with the teenage Faithfull while Bob Dylan types away in the background in Don’t Look Back).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in the background
Cite this Entry
“In the background.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20background. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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