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 compilation of clips then switched to the beach and a pair of black Vans sneakers lying in the sand as Penelope and her friends frolicked in the water in the background.
—
Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
Videos from the rally show Trump standing at a lectern with two Secret Service snipers positioned on a rooftop in the background.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024
Earshot, after analyzing cell-phone videos and footage from a videographer near the scene, determined that for forty-six minutes prior to the incident the noise of a drone could be heard in the background.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
And Curtis Robinson has toiled in the background for years.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for in the background 
Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 16 July 2024
Videos from the rally show Trump standing at a lectern with two Secret Service snipers positioned on a rooftop in the background.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024
Earshot, after analyzing cell-phone videos and footage from a videographer near the scene, determined that for forty-six minutes prior to the incident the noise of a drone could be heard in the background.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
And Curtis Robinson has toiled in the background for years.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for in the background
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in the background.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near 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 27 Jul. 2024.
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