in the background

idiom

: 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.
Stepping into this shop is a visceral experience — the smell of shoe polish, the blues playing in the background, the walls covered in fading clips from decades-old issues of the Rocky Mountain News. Beth Rankin, The Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2024 Vintage Hawaiian Airlines prints line the walls while soft Hawaiian music plays in the background, transporting guests into a tranquil space far from the usual airport chaos. Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 While such orbs are typically helium balloons, this orb appeared stationary, despite tree branches blowing in the wind in the background, Rojas says. Linh Ta, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024 Their characters don’t have MSNBC or Fox News blaring in the background. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for in the background 

Dictionary Entries Near in the background

Cite this Entry

“In the background.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20background. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!