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in the background

Definition of in the background

  1. :  in a position that avoids attracting attention He was a shy man who always tried to keep/stay in the background.

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'All the Feels,' All the Time
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Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Word by Word Definitions

backgroundplay

  1. :  the scenery or ground behind something

    :  the part of a painting representing what lies behind objects in the foreground

    :  an image that displays on a computer screen underneath the various available icons and windows

  1. :  to provide with background

See the full definition of background

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WORD OF THE DAY

threshold

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the point at which something begins

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TRENDING NOW

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  5. depose That word might not mean what you think it means.

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Words at Play

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That Sucks Word Alternatives

Your day is the worst. Your vocabulary is the best.

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'All the Feels,' All the Time

Once more, with 'feels'

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A Pineapple Is An Apple (Kind Of)

Pineapple once had a different, more internationally common name.

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Read This to Get 'Smart'

A thinking person's guide

Ask the Editors

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Is it wrong to use 'decimate' to mean 'destroy'?

Language changes

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The Serial Comma

Why don't they call it the Merriam-Webster comma?

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Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

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Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

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June 2017 Words of the Day Quiz

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Yearbook Superlatives Quiz

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How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

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Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

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