background

Study(26)

/ˈbæk(ɡ)ɹaʊnd/

noun 5verb 4adj 1

Collocations

(noun.) facts connected with a situation/event

ADJ

general | factual | cultural, economic, historical, political, technical

VERB + BACKGROUND

describe, give (sb), outline, provide (sb with)

My teacher outlined the background of the American Civil War before we watched the documentary.

form

Years of working in retail formed the background for her successful career in customer service.

BACKGROUND + NOUN

information, knowledge, reading

The teacher provided background knowledge about ancient Egypt before showing the documentary.

PREP

against the ~

Against this background, the company decided to hire more customer service staff.

~ to

Understanding the historical background to the conflict helps explain today's tensions.

(noun.) part of a view/picture behind the main parts

PREP

against a/the ~

The bright red door looked striking against the old brick background of the building.

in the ~

She could hear children playing in the background while she was on the phone call.

on a/the ~

The white text on a dark background makes the website easier to read at night.

(noun.) position in which sb/sth is not important/noticed

VERB + BACKGROUND

blend into, fade into, melt/merge into, recede/retreat into, slip into

As the wedding ceremony began, the guests gradually receded into the background while the couple exchanged vows.

keep/remain/stay in

She likes to stay in the background during meetings and listen more than she talks.

hover in

During the concert, a cameraman hovered in the background, filming the main performance.

BACKGROUND + NOUN

music, noise, radiation

PREP

in the ~

While we talked, soft music played in the background at the café.

Definitions

adj

Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.

background noise

The antivirus program runs on a background thread.

noun

One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.

The lawyer had a background in computer science.

A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.

Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close[…]above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them. Many insects probably use this strategy, which is a close analogy to crypsis in the visible world — camouflage and other methods for blending into one’s visual background.

An extra who appears in the background, with no speaking role.

Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.

A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).

There was tons of noise in the background.

The photographer let us pick a background for the portrait.

verb

To place in the background.

Ha! I see Venus’ transit now;—lo! a new planet there;—and behind all, an infinite starry nebulousness, as if thy being were backgrounded by some spangled vail of mystery.

To put in a position that is not prominent.

One aspect of the story that appears interesting is that the alleged rapist and victim are only referred to by name together in the same sentence once. In all the other sentences, one receives more focus, while the other is backgrounded.

To gather and provide background information (on).

To increase the weight and immunity of (a calf) by feeding with forage and grains, as an intermediate stage in cattle production, between weaning and placement in a feedlot.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — scenery hung at back of stage

backdrop
backcloth

noun — (computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user

desktop

noun — the part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in

ground

noun — the state of the environment in which a situation exists

verb — understate the importance or quality of

downplay

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

background noise

Wiktionary

The antivirus program runs on a background thread.

Wiktionary

The lawyer had a background in computer science.

Wiktionary

There was tons of noise in the background.

Wiktionary

Ha! I see Venus’ transit now;—lo! a new planet there;—and behind all, an infinite starry nebulousness, as if thy being were backgrounded by some spangled vail of mystery.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, background is marked as figuratively. Watch for register when choosing this word.

Your note

not saved

0 chars