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
Each December, more than 250 evergreens and 100 homes shimmer in colorful lights reflected across the lake while church bells play carols in the background, completing the small-town holiday soundtrack.
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Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
Ottosson was also sure to make some information that the audience might not care about clear, while more vital information was left in the background or interfered with in some way.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
Perry said as laughs could be heard in the background.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Sound Mixer Simon Hayes was in the background, working to keep the mic under the brim, or peak, of her hat out of the wind path.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the background
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Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025
Ottosson was also sure to make some information that the audience might not care about clear, while more vital information was left in the background or interfered with in some way.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025
Perry said as laughs could be heard in the background.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
Sound Mixer Simon Hayes was in the background, working to keep the mic under the brim, or peak, of her hat out of the wind path.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 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 5 Dec. 2025.
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