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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Recent Examples of backgrounds
Participants often come from various backgrounds, playing different styles of mahjong, such as Taiwanese, Filipino, Singaporean and American (commonly associated with Jewish communities), which — unlike other the styles — uses a card that is issued annually to set the winning hands for each year.
—
Grace Hwang Lynch, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Maryland is a mosaic of backgrounds and cultures.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2026
Chief Executive Ruth Yansick said the center hopes to find candidates with backgrounds in finance, fundraising, community leadership and entrepreneurship, plus experience on a nonprofit board.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
These attorneys are often bilingual and culturally competent, giving them a better understanding of their clients’ backgrounds than a general practice attorney.
—Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone
february 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
On most prestige shows, a friendship between two women from disparate backgrounds would serve as an emotional anchor, softening both characters.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The backgrounds are colorful but all that’s left of the subject is a transparent imprint of their face and upper body.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
According to Cuddeford and Himede, Bad Bunny wanted the show to unify not only Puerto Ricans, but Latinos of all backgrounds.
—Tess Garcia, Architectural Digest, 9 Feb. 2026
Despite their contrasting backgrounds, together Joly and Brunet proved unstoppable, transforming pairs skating.
—Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 3 Feb. 2026
Grace Hwang Lynch, Mercury News, 11 Feb. 2026
Maryland is a mosaic of backgrounds and cultures.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 11 Feb. 2026
Chief Executive Ruth Yansick said the center hopes to find candidates with backgrounds in finance, fundraising, community leadership and entrepreneurship, plus experience on a nonprofit board.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
These attorneys are often bilingual and culturally competent, giving them a better understanding of their clients’ backgrounds than a general practice attorney.
—Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone
february 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2026
On most prestige shows, a friendship between two women from disparate backgrounds would serve as an emotional anchor, softening both characters.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
The backgrounds are colorful but all that’s left of the subject is a transparent imprint of their face and upper body.
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
According to Cuddeford and Himede, Bad Bunny wanted the show to unify not only Puerto Ricans, but Latinos of all backgrounds.
—Tess Garcia, Architectural Digest, 9 Feb. 2026
Despite their contrasting backgrounds, together Joly and Brunet proved unstoppable, transforming pairs skating.
—Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backgrounds
Noun
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At the same time, the film’s backdrops are vibrant in a nearly Impressionist way.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2026
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In many instances, the properties where authors picked up their ballpoints became backdrops for adventure or even characters themselves.—
Lindsay Cohn,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The collaboration will span four years, with both companies focusing on rapid development in operational settings.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
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But Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn Kuhl, who is overseeing the trial, has instructed them not to search for or view any information related to the case or to change their settings to evaluate claims made during trial.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The giraffe herd stays behind the scenes at the zoo as construction continues on the new complex which is slated to open early this summer.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
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Paula Pell may have spent the last decade stealing scenes in series like Girls5Eva, AP Bio and, now, The ‘Burbs, but the multihyphenate hasn’t moved on from writing.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Backgrounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backgrounds. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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