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 technology works quietly in the background.
—
Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Volvo, however, wanted the cachet associated with an Italian automotive design studio, and kept the model’s Swedish authorship in the background.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
In simple terms, the plumbing in the background was extremely complex to get done.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
In one photo, Taylor posed with her father with a bright rainbow in the background.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in the background
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Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Volvo, however, wanted the cachet associated with an Italian automotive design studio, and kept the model’s Swedish authorship in the background.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2025
In simple terms, the plumbing in the background was extremely complex to get done.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
In one photo, Taylor posed with her father with a bright rainbow in the background.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 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 7 Oct. 2025.
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