backgrounds

plural of background
1
as in backdrops
the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed they got married on a mountain top with the sunset as background

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2
as in settings
the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set the background of that movie is the World War II era

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of backgrounds Kang then reposted Lee’s post along with a thumbs up emoji, effectively lending her support to folks from all backgrounds dressing up as these charismatic heroes and villains. Miranda Rake, Parents, 14 Oct. 2025 Hostin responded by saying that most HHS Secretaries have had scientific backgrounds if not medical backgrounds. Greg Evans, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025 Her lack of restaurant and culinary school backgrounds didn’t help matters, according to Lakshmi. Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025 Studies that compare genetic variation between pairs of siblings have been able to better control for socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as parenting practices and ethnicities; in these studies, the direct effects of DNA on IQ look even smaller, still with no hint of a biological mechanism. Eric Turkheimer, The Atlantic, 13 Oct. 2025 Read the Room is an independent creative advertising agency created by five female founders, including former Leo Burnett Middle East Agency exec Natasha Romariz Maasri, with backgrounds in global ad agencies across Beirut, Dubai, New York, Montreal and Rio de Janeiro. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025 This time, however, the creators are veteran producers with journalism backgrounds. Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2025 The school is a part of Milwaukee's School of Choice voucher program, and accepts students from all faiths and backgrounds, but is still rooted in its heritage as an Islamic institution. Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 7 Oct. 2025 The bank actively recruits from a broad selection of schools worldwide and particularly values candidates with STEM backgrounds, given that Goldman employs over 10,000 engineers. Dave Smith, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backgrounds
Noun
  • The analysis recorded all gambling messaging, such as logos on replica and training kits, stadiums, advertising boards and interview backdrops, with the Saturday evening game between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Manchester City found to have an average of 22 adverts per minute.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
  • And beyond its iconic landmarks, there is still much of Madrid left to discover, offering fresh and unexpected backdrops for future productions.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In professional settings where colleagues and clients often feel overlooked, this simple acknowledgment can be a great way to strengthen relationships.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The years following the pandemic have seen the advent of training boards, standalone frames with customizable settings that users can manipulate with their phones.
    Kelli María Korducki, HubSpot, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Born to 22-year-old mother Kibibbi and 25-year-old father Forrest, the calf spent the last month bonding with his mom behind the scenes.
    Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Behind the scenes, Gildan is likely benefiting from Comfort Colors' sourcing in the Western Hemisphere, Lu said.
    Alex Harring, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Backgrounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backgrounds. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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