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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of backgrounds
In the mid- to late-2010s, myriad groups of veteran engineers from different backgrounds set their problem-solving sights on beauty, looking to develop robotic systems that would boost the speed and accessibility of beauty services.
—
Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
Some of you have backgrounds in acting, news and even politics.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
To be inspired by writers from a whole range of backgrounds across a whole range of genres.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
So are kids from different racial, ethnic, social or religious backgrounds.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Most Saturday morning cartoons recycled the same backgrounds over and over.
—Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 4 Jan. 2026
California’s history with gubernatorial elections suggests voters sometimes respond powerfully to candidates who break from conventional political backgrounds.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Not solely because of Mamdani’s perhaps not radical but inarguably progressive ideas—to, say, tax the rich or enforce a rent freeze—but also because of their ages and backgrounds, which have been underscored repeatedly by the media as cause of celebration or with Islamophobic dismay.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Jan. 2026
Cincinnati Storytelling Festival Hear favorite tales from national and local professional storytellers from a variety of backgrounds.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2025
Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 6 Jan. 2026
Some of you have backgrounds in acting, news and even politics.
—Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 6 Jan. 2026
To be inspired by writers from a whole range of backgrounds across a whole range of genres.
—Literary Hub, 5 Jan. 2026
So are kids from different racial, ethnic, social or religious backgrounds.
—Dr. Mahvash Madni, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Most Saturday morning cartoons recycled the same backgrounds over and over.
—Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 4 Jan. 2026
California’s history with gubernatorial elections suggests voters sometimes respond powerfully to candidates who break from conventional political backgrounds.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
Not solely because of Mamdani’s perhaps not radical but inarguably progressive ideas—to, say, tax the rich or enforce a rent freeze—but also because of their ages and backgrounds, which have been underscored repeatedly by the media as cause of celebration or with Islamophobic dismay.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 2 Jan. 2026
Cincinnati Storytelling Festival Hear favorite tales from national and local professional storytellers from a variety of backgrounds.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backgrounds
Noun
-
The murals scattered throughout NoDa offer stunning backdrops with artistic cred for your social media-worthy pics, as opposed to creating memories standing in front of more corporate works.—
Bill Bootz,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Dec. 2025
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Clients are also gravitating toward deeper, richer finishes and tonal palettes that make shelves feel like sculptural backdrops, says Laurent.—
Kate Jerde,
Architectural Digest,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Replacing imagination with avatars VHEX Lab questioned whether imagination alone was necessary in modern therapy settings.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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Other types of bulbs are available with these same settings.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The restrictions have already thrown travel into chaos, as scenes of massive lines and hours-long delays pop up at airports around the country.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
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The actress, director Guillermo del Toro, and the film's production team go behind the scenes of the Creature's first interaction with a human other than Victor Frankenstein.—
Gerrad Hall,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Backgrounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backgrounds. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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