into the background
idiom
: into the position of being less important
The war has pushed all other issues into the background.
Examples of into the background in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Homes are often designed with a horizontal orientation, mirroring the undulating terrain, and roofs are pitched with muted colors that recede into the background.
—
Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Not when Kate is receding into the background, like Homer Simpson into his hedge.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
There is a strong possibility the 12-team field will expand to 16, with the potential for 24 teams in 2027, all of which possibly pushes the Rose Bowl further into the background.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Some characters fade into the background, and the politics feel muted, but the mystery stays engaging and lands cleanly.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for into the background
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Amplified Content Studio, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Not when Kate is receding into the background, like Homer Simpson into his hedge.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
There is a strong possibility the 12-team field will expand to 16, with the potential for 24 teams in 2027, all of which possibly pushes the Rose Bowl further into the background.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Some characters fade into the background, and the politics feel muted, but the mystery stays engaging and lands cleanly.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for into the background
Cite this Entry
“Into the background.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/into%20the%20background. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share