backdrop

noun

back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp How to pronounce backdrop (audio)
1
: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage
2
backdrop transitive verb

Examples of backdrop in a Sentence

The mountains provided a perfect backdrop for the wedding photos. The novel unfolds against a backdrop of war. The city provides the backdrop for the love story.
Recent Examples on the Web Against that backdrop, Biden’s commitment to the usual firewall between a presidential administration and the Fed stands in stark contrast to Trump’s openly political pressure. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 Set against the backdrop of the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003, the story will capture the essence of Hong Kong’s resilience during the crisis, portraying it as a love letter to the city’s spirit. Caroline Brew, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 On Thursday, police used that Metro station as a backdrop for a news conference on the drug free zone law. Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024 Against the backdrop of soaring housing costs in the last year, tens of thousands of San Diego County residents decided to take a big leap. Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 With a deep orange sunset as the backdrop, George and the Osage Singers engaged in drum pounding and chanting as dancers in traditional clothing circled them and a ring of female singers. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2024 The March 10 Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles unfolded against the backdrop of wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and with a potentially momentous U.S. election on the horizon. Jake Coyle, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Mar. 2024 The potential formal alliance of the organizations arrives with the backdrop a big slump in the pace of job gains in the Bay Area as well as outright job losses for the region’s all-important tech industry. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Besides, the meats deserve their own limelight, and a less scene-stealing backdrop of rice frames them perfectly. Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'backdrop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backdrop was in 1866

Dictionary Entries Near backdrop

Cite this Entry

“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backdrop. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

backdrop

noun
back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp How to pronounce backdrop (audio)
1
: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage
2

More from Merriam-Webster on backdrop

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