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
The Golf Channel would always be playing in the background; the soft claps were the soundtrack to our slow Saturdays.
—
Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2025
This affords the original music from the various host anime to play in the background as your respective mecha curb-stomp their targets.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
This walk-up and order restaurant had wooden benches and tables for seating, a sit-down bar, tiki statues on display, colorful murals on the wall and contemporary Hawaiian music playing in the background.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Lurking in the background: Trump’s war on the BRICS.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the background
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Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 12 Aug. 2025
This affords the original music from the various host anime to play in the background as your respective mecha curb-stomp their targets.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
This walk-up and order restaurant had wooden benches and tables for seating, a sit-down bar, tiki statues on display, colorful murals on the wall and contemporary Hawaiian music playing in the background.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025
Lurking in the background: Trump’s war on the BRICS.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 5 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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