BACKGROUND: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for BACKGROUND?

Need another word that means the same as “background”? Find 40 synonyms and 30 related words for “background” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Background” are: ground, backcloth, backdrop, desktop, screen background, scope, setting, background knowledge, background signal, surroundings, framework, surround, in the distance, on the horizon, behind the scenes, out of the public eye, out of the spotlight, out of the limelight, backstage, circumstances, context, conditions, situation, environment, milieu, scene, scenario, atmosphere, social circumstances, family circumstances, experience, record, history, past, training, education, grounding, knowledge, downplay, play down

Background as a Noun

Definitions of "Background" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “background” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• Scenery hung at back of stage.
• Extraneous signals that can be confused with the phenomenon to be observed or measured.
• The part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground.
• The state of the environment in which a situation exists.
• The part of a picture, scene, or design that forms a setting for the main figures or objects, or appears furthest from the viewer.
• Used in reference to tasks or processes that do not need input from the user.
• Unwanted signals, such as noise in the reception or recording of sound.
• The circumstances or situation prevailing at a particular time or underlying a particular event.
• Relatively unimportant or inconspicuous accompanying situation.
• A less important or conspicuous position or function.
• A person's education, experience, and social circumstances.
• Low-intensity radiation from radioisotopes present in the natural environment.
• Information that is essential to understanding a situation or problem.
• A person's social heritage: previous experience or training.
• The area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear.
• (computer science) the area of the screen in graphical user interfaces against which icons and windows appear.

Synonyms of "Background" as a noun (38 Words)

atmosphere	A particular environment or surrounding influence. An atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate s headquarters.
backcloth	Scenery hung at back of stage.
backdrop	The setting or background for a scene, event, or situation. The conference took place against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic activity.
background knowledge	The part of a scene (or picture) that lies behind objects in the foreground.
background signal	The state of the environment in which a situation exists.
backstage	A stage area out of sight of the audience. Backstage was the scene of pleasant pandemonium.
behind the scenes	The fleshy part of the human body that you sit on.
circumstances	Your overall circumstances or condition in life including everything that happens to you. He found himself in straitened circumstances.
conditions	The atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation. The conditions were too rainy for playing in the snow.
context	The circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood. The proposals need to be considered in the context of new European directives.
desktop	The working area of a computer screen regarded as a representation of a notional desktop and containing icons representing items such as files. You can now have multiple overlapping windows on the desktop.
education	The United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with education including federal aid to educational institutions and students created 1979. Education is a preparation for life.
environment	The area in which something exists or lives. A parliamentary environment committee.
experience	The knowledge or skill acquired by a period of practical experience of something especially that gained in a particular profession. A man of experience.
family circumstances	An association of people who share common beliefs or activities.
framework	A structure supporting or containing something. A conservatory in a delicate framework of iron.
ground	Relating to actions or activities taking place on the ground rather than the air. They called for a retrial on the grounds of the new evidence.
grounding	The surface (as a wall or canvas) prepared to take the paint for a painting. A good grounding in mathematics.
history	The aggregate of past events. The group has quite a history.
in the distance	A rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite.
knowledge	Information held on a computer system. Her considerable knowledge of antiques.
milieu	The environmental condition. Gregory came from the same aristocratic milieu as Sidonius.
on the horizon	The great circle on the celestial sphere whose plane passes through the sensible horizon and the center of the Earth.
out of the limelight	A failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball.
out of the public eye	A failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball.
out of the spotlight	A failure by a batter or runner to reach a base safely in baseball.
past	A verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past. The monuments act as guidelines through the country s colourful past.
record	Anything such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph providing permanent evidence of or information about past events. He held the world record for over a decade.
scenario	A postulated sequence of possible events. The scenario is France during the Reign of Terror.
scene	The pieces of scenery used in a play or opera. I don t go out into the scene now.
scope	A telescope microscope or other device having a name ending in scope. Infrared night scopes.
screen background	A protective covering consisting of netting; can be mounted in a frame.
setting	The set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event. A setting of Yevtushenko s bleak poem.
situation	A set of circumstances in which one finds oneself; a state of affairs. Eternal truths will be neither true nor eternal unless they have fresh meaning for every new social situation.
social circumstances	A party of people assembled to promote sociability and communal activity.
surround	The area encircling something surroundings. An oak fireplace surround.
surroundings	The environmental condition. I took up the time admiring my surroundings.
training	The result of good upbringing (especially knowledge of correct social behavior. You ll have to go into strict training.

Usage Examples of "Background" as a noun

• Her voice suggested a tenacious, working-class background.
• When the rain came he could hear the sound of thunder in the background.
• The house stands against a background of sheltering trees.
• The word is written in white on a red background.
• Programs can be left running in the background.
• He is a lawyer with a sports background.
• Background information.
• The embassy filled him in on the background of the incident.
• They got a bad connection and could hardly hear one another over the background signals.
• The political and economic background.
• He posed her against a background of rolling hills.
• After that evening, she remained in the background.
• She has a background in nursing.

Background as a Verb

Definitions of "Background" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “background” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Understate the importance or quality of.
• Provide with background.
• Form a background to.

Synonyms of "Background" as a verb (2 Words)

downplay	Understate the importance or quality of. This report downplays the seriousness of global warming.
play down	Employ in a game or in a specific position.

Usage Examples of "Background" as a verb

• Windswept land backgrounded by the Rockies.
• The embassy backgrounded American reporters.

Associations of "Background" (30 Words)

backdrop	A painted cloth hung at the back of a theatre stage as part of the scenery. The conference took place against a backdrop of increasing diplomatic activity.
circumstance	The set of facts or circumstances that surround a situation or event. Pomp and circumstance.
cityscape	The visual appearance of a city or urban area; a city landscape. The dominant character of the cityscape is it poverty.
comfortable	(especially of clothes or furnishings) providing physical ease and relaxation. He was said to be comfortable in the West Highland Hospital.
condition	Apply a conditioner to the hair. The wiring is in good condition.
context	The parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning. Skilled readers use context to construct meaning from words as they are read.
contextual	Depending on the preceding or following parts of a text to clarify meaning. He included contextual information in footnotes.
diorama	A model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit.
environ	Extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. The stone circle was environed by an expanse of peat soil.
environment	The natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially as affected by human activity. He longed for the comfortable environment of his living room.
foreground	Move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent. The intricate garden depicted in the foreground.
homocentric	Having a common center.
landscape	The genre of landscape painting. The site has been tastefully landscaped.
locale	A place where something happens or is set, or that has particular events associated with it. Her summers were spent in a variety of exotic locales.
milieu	A person’s social environment. Gregory came from the same aristocratic milieu as Sidonius.
nature	The essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized. I m not violent by nature.
panorama	The visual percept of a region. The galleries will offer a full panorama of 20th century art.
panoramic	Including all aspects of a subject; wide-ranging. A panoramic view.
perspective	The appearance of viewed objects with regard to their relative position, distance from the viewer, etc. Most guidebook history is written from the editor s perspective.
picturesque	Strikingly expressive. The salad has no regional or picturesque name.
polychrome	Color with many colors make polychrome. Modigliani continued to carve his large heads sometimes in polychrome until 1916.
pomp	Vain and ostentatious display. I perceived Captain Delmar in all the pomp and pride of full uniform.
scene	The pieces of scenery used in a play or opera. I don t go out into the scene now.
scenery	The appearance of a place. They had all helped with scenery and costumes.
scenic	Used of locations; having beautiful natural scenery. The scenic route from Florence to Siena.
setting	A speed, height, or temperature at which a machine or device can be adjusted to operate. A place setting of sterling flatware.
surroundings	The environmental condition. I took up the time admiring my surroundings.
sylvan	Consisting of or associated with woods; wooded. A shady sylvan glade.
view	Purpose the phrase with a view to means with the intention of or for the purpose of. Consider what follows from the positivist view.
vista	A long, narrow view as between rows of trees or buildings, especially one closed by a building or other structure. Sweeping lawns and landscaped vistas.