background

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈbæk.ɡraʊnd/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular background

Plural backgrounds

1. (uncountable) The background is what can be seen or heard behind other things that are closer or louder.

   I was talking to Mary, but I heard the phone ringing in the background.

   The play was good, and I especially liked the backgrounds that were used.

2. (countable & uncountable) The background of a person is his/her history.

   The police checked his background to see if he had been in jail.

Note

• Background is a compound word: back + ground

Synonyms

• (seen behind) backdrop, scenery
• (history) history

Related words

• back
• ground
• scene
• scenery

Verb

Plain form background

Third-person singular backgrounds

Past tense backgrounded

Past participle backgrounded

Present participle backgrounding

1. (transitive) To make a background.