in the background

phrase

: in a position that avoids attracting attention
He was a shy man who always tried to keep/stay in the background.

Examples of in the background in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Videos posted on social media showed a torrent of water rushing through a street near the Las Vegas Strip, with a Ferris wheel and casinos in the background. — Jaimie Ding, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026 The ad jumps from a clip of Donalds and Mason arguing to body camera footage showing an aide of Donalds, who is Black, appearing to angrily confront someone as Donalds looks on in the background. — Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 Project Hail Mary’s Ryan Gosling is still floating around charmingly in zero gravity in the background. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Some of that made it into the movie, in the background of Rocky’s apartment. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in the background

Rhymes for in the background

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Browse Nearby Words

in the ascendant
in the background
in the bag
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Cite this Entry

“In the background.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20background. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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