backstage 1 of 2

adverb

ˈbak-ˈstāj How to pronounce backstage (audio)
Definition of backstagenext
as in privately
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others some of the most important decisions were made backstage, and only presented to the full committee afterward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

backstage

2 of 2

adjective

as in offstage

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Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of backstage
Adverb
To close out the show, McCartney and Colbert then went backstage and flipped a giant switch, effectively turning the lights off on the 30-year late night program. — Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 Because of his show’s cancellation, a wormhole opened up backstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater, collapsing the space between his Strike Force Five co-hosts. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 22 May 2026
Adjective
The film encapsulates the tour’s phenomenon — counting down the final months before the last show and capturing all the backstage drama and fan community that rallied around it. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 18 Dec. 2025 PWInsider reports that former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Drew McIntyre is backstage for the show. — Fernando Quiles Jr, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for backstage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for backstage
  1. privately
  2. offscreen
  3. confidentially
  4. secretly
Adverb
  • Christie’s privately sold Van Gogh’s Zouave (1888) for roughly $190 million and offered two Paul Signac paintings from the collection last November.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Democrats have wondered, most privately out of a desire not to offend Blumenthal, if Bronin’s run against Larson offered a template for someone to similarly challenge the senator.
    — Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of privately
Adjective
  • One stronghold after another has fallen to the ruthless conqueror Nobunaga Oda—often celebrated as the first great unifier of Japan but here cast as a largely offscreen mega-villain.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
  • Despite their offscreen romance, filming their onscreen relationship wasn’t always easy.
    — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 July 2026
Definition of offscreen
Adverb
  • The company confidentially filed its prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission in June, but hasn’t disclosed an official timeline for its debut.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • SpaceX priced one of the largest IPOs in history this summer, and both OpenAI and Anthropic have confidentially filed paperwork with the SEC, each racing to be the first pure play AI company to trade publicly.
    — Steven Dudash, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of confidentially
Adverb
  • Dozens of pages of documents describe agents secretly infiltrating meetings, monitoring activist chat groups and using license plate numbers to compile names of people who attended gatherings.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • In 1963, the Corvette’s father, Zora Arkus-Duntov, began working secretly on a race car that would be able to best the famed Shelby Cobra.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of secretly

Browse Nearby Words

backstabs
backstage
backstairs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Backstage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/backstage. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of backstage for Spanish Speakers

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