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 shoes accompanied a fall 2025 Schiaparelli look including pants and a long jacket with a striking animal print-adjacent pattern of sparkling silver against a black backdrop.
—
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
But today, staff at Chávez view it as the backdrop to student success.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Advertisement Wonder Man doesn’t just use Hollywood as a backdrop for a superhero story.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
The story explores themes of deception and moral compromise against the backdrop of Cold War espionage.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
But today, staff at Chávez view it as the backdrop to student success.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Advertisement Wonder Man doesn’t just use Hollywood as a backdrop for a superhero story.
—Judy Berman, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
The story explores themes of deception and moral compromise against the backdrop of Cold War espionage.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for backdrop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backdrop
background
Noun
-
In between acts, there was a dance intermission featuring background dancers, including a solo female dancer performing a contemporary piece, before the stage opened to a full dance performance.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Familiar streets and relationships sit behind the work, even when the backgrounds are reduced to color.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backdrop. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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