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
The experience starts with a one-hour doggy portrait session set against the stunning alpine backdrop.
—
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Set against a backdrop of oppressive heat and drought, the narrative follows Isabel, a 17-year-old from the rural north who takes a job at an upscale country club outside Manila.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Since then, Ålesund has been known as a Scandinavian architectural gem, set against a breathtaking natural backdrop.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 15 Feb. 2026
The 41st annual Independent Spirit Awards looked a little different than years past, with the Hollywood Palladium replacing the customary beachfront backdrop.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
Set against a backdrop of oppressive heat and drought, the narrative follows Isabel, a 17-year-old from the rural north who takes a job at an upscale country club outside Manila.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Since then, Ålesund has been known as a Scandinavian architectural gem, set against a breathtaking natural backdrop.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 15 Feb. 2026
The 41st annual Independent Spirit Awards looked a little different than years past, with the Hollywood Palladium replacing the customary beachfront backdrop.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backdrop
background
Noun
-
Most campaigns blend into the background, circulating and disappearing with little emotional traction.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
-
L’Heureux said the background warming taking place across the Pacific has been gradually causing the original method to lose sight of El Niño.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backdrop. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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