as in background
the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed
visitors dine at the restaurant with a dramatic stretch of the Pacific Ocean as a jaw-dropping backdrop
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Recent Examples of backdrop
At certain angles, the photo’s dark backdrop allows viewers to see the reflection of former President Barack Obama’s portrait that depicts him surrounded by greenery and flowers representing Chicago and Hawaii.
—
Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh (who also directed The Punisher and the previous Ice Road installment) perfectly delivers on the classic Neeson formula, this time giving it a striking new backdrop where one wrong move means your end.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Yet, Pritzker and other Democratic politicians chose the safety of the Chicago River near President Donald Trump‘s hotel as the backdrop for their presser on the National Guard not being needed in Chicago.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Amid such a backdrop, many in Venezuela are understandably reluctant to comment when asked for their views in front of a rolling camera.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
Writer-director Jonathan Hensleigh (who also directed The Punisher and the previous Ice Road installment) perfectly delivers on the classic Neeson formula, this time giving it a striking new backdrop where one wrong move means your end.
—Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Yet, Pritzker and other Democratic politicians chose the safety of the Chicago River near President Donald Trump‘s hotel as the backdrop for their presser on the National Guard not being needed in Chicago.
—Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Amid such a backdrop, many in Venezuela are understandably reluctant to comment when asked for their views in front of a rolling camera.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backdrop
background
Noun
-
Its demands usually came through Coulter, the DOGE lead with the Harvard and hedge fund background, who early on dropped by Dudek’s office unannounced multiple times a week, Dudek said.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
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Gargari incorporates music from his clients’ ancestral backgrounds into their massage.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backdrop. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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