background Meaning & Definition
What Does Background Mean?
Background is used as an adjective meaning Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system. As a noun, it means One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past. As a verb, it means To place in the background.
Word Facts for Background
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈbæk.(ɡ)ɹaʊnd// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | scope, ground and setting |
| Antonyms | highlight, spotlight and foreground |
| Plural | backgrounds |
| Verb forms | backgrounds, backgrounding, backgrounded |
Background Definition (Adjective)
- Less important or less noticeable in a scene or system.
background noise
Background as a Noun
- One's social heritage, or previous life; what one did in the past.
The lawyer had a background in computer science.
- A part of the picture that depicts scenery to the rear or behind the main subject; context.
- An extra who appears in the background, with no speaking role.
- Information relevant to the current situation about past events; history.
- A less important feature of scenery (as opposed to foreground).
There was tons of noise in the background.
- The image or color over which a computer's desktop items are shown (e.g. icons or application windows).
- A type of activity on a computer that is not normally visible to the user.
The antivirus program is running in the background.
- Ellipsis of background radiation.
low-background
Background as a Verb
- To place in the background.
- To put in a position that is not prominent.
- To gather and provide background information (on).
- To increase the weight and immunity of (a calf) by feeding with forage and grains, as an intermediate stage in cattle production, between weaning and placement in a feedlot.
Verb
- simple past and past participle of backgrind
Synonyms of Background
Antonyms of Background
Background in a Sentence
background noise
The antivirus program runs on a background thread.
The lawyer had a background in computer science.
There was tons of noise in the background.
The photographer let us pick a background for the portrait.
The antivirus program is running in the background.
low-background
Word Forms & Grammar
background (not comparable)
background (countable and uncountable, plural backgrounds)
background (third-person singular simple present backgrounds, present participle backgrounding, simple past and past participle backgrounded)
background
Words That Rhyme With Background
Origin of Background
From back + ground. Compare backstory.
How to Pronounce Background
You say background as //ˈbæk.(ɡ)ɹaʊnd//. It has 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Background
Is background an adjective or a noun?
Background is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun and a verb.
What is another word for background?
You can replace background with words such as scope, ground and setting. See the full list of background synonyms and antonyms.
What is the opposite of background?
The opposite of background can be expressed with words like highlight, spotlight, foreground and play up.
What is the plural of background?
The plural of background is backgrounds.
What is the past tense of background?
The past tense of background is backgrounded. The present participle is backgrounding.
More About Background On Meaning Stash
More Words Starting With “Back”
- back
- back-and-forth
- back-and-forths
- back-bench
- back-breaking
- back-burners
- back-channel
- back-check
- back-cloth
- back-crawl