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
After the mother-daughter duo arrive at the construction are, a bare bones structure and yellow caution tape can be seen in the background.
—
Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
In my other movies, there was always an artist in the background.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Directed by Payton Murphy, the visual captures Coverdale and Hook City Strings performing the song in a simple studio space, laced with white, with photos of Coverdale and his loved ones in the background.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2025
Unlike many wellness tools that require time or focused practice, sound works instantly and in the background of daily life.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the background
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Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
In my other movies, there was always an artist in the background.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Directed by Payton Murphy, the visual captures Coverdale and Hook City Strings performing the song in a simple studio space, laced with white, with photos of Coverdale and his loved ones in the background.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2025
Unlike many wellness tools that require time or focused practice, sound works instantly and in the background of daily life.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025
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 29 Nov. 2025.
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