background music

noun

: music to accompany the dialogue or action of a motion picture or radio or television drama

Examples of background music 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.
Chase certainly doesn't seem to regard Adele as calming, background music. Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 Spotify hit on the idea of playlists, a way of curating songs to be background music The music industry in 2006 was desperate, having been kneecapped by piracy — first Napster, then a host of file-sharing applications. Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 16 Jan. 2025 Unknown The evil bastards who program supermarket background music. Spin Staff, SPIN, 9 Jan. 2025 Zoom out: Trump likes to play the role of DJ at his Palm Beach club, but the background music will likely be dominated by the same talk that has consumed D.C. Marc Caputo, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for background music 

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of background music was in 1928

Dictionary Entries Near background music

Cite this Entry

“Background music.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/background%20music. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

background music

noun
: music played to go along with and add to the story or mood of a movie or radio or television show

More from Merriam-Webster on background music

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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