backdrop

noun

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

Synonyms of backdrop

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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
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.
This year’s cycle also unfolded against the backdrop of an unresolved debate over UC’s test-blind admissions policy. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 And the company will be doing that against a backdrop of persistent inflation. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026 Vaulted ceilings, oversized windows, and a very mid-century modern common area create a zen backdrop that will be particularly appreciated after a long drive. — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026 Against this backdrop, the Houthi announcement of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia amounted to the most serious escalation of Saudi-Houthi tensions since a tenuous ceasefire largely ended Yemen’s civil war in 2022. — Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for backdrop

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of backdrop was in 1866

Rhymes for backdrop

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Browse Nearby Words

back draft
backdrop
back East
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Cite this Entry

“Backdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backdrop. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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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
: background sense 1, 3a

More from Merriam-Webster on backdrop

Nglish: Translation of backdrop for Spanish Speakers

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