Background
n.
The part of a scene or picture that is farthest from the viewer.
The mountains in the background of the painting gave it depth.
Often appears as...
- background scene
- faded into the background
n.
The experiences, knowledge, education, etc., in a person's past.
The job requires a background in computer science.
Often appears as...
- background check
- educational background
n.
A procedure on a computer that continues to operate after the user has finished working with it.
The program runs in the background while you're working on other tasks.
Often appears as...
- background process
- run in the background
Usage tips
Technical
n.
The conditions that form the setting of an event, fact, or character is created or considered.
The decision was made against a background of declining sales.
Often appears as...
- background information
- background knowledge
Usage tips
Academic
n.
Quiet music played to provide mood or atmosphere.
I put on some background music while I study.
Often appears as...
- background noise
- background sound
n.
The part of a scene or picture that is farthest from the viewer.
The mountains in the background of the painting gave it depth.
Often appears as...
- background scene
- faded into the background
n.
The experiences, knowledge, education, etc., in a person's past.
The job requires a background in computer science.
Often appears as...
- background check
- educational background
n.
A procedure on a computer that continues to operate after the user has finished working with it.
The program runs in the background while you're working on other tasks.
Often appears as...
- background process
- run in the background
Usage tips
Technical
n.
The conditions that form the setting of an event, fact, or character is created or considered.
The decision was made against a background of declining sales.
Often appears as...
- background information
- background knowledge
Usage tips
Academic
n.
Quiet music played to provide mood or atmosphere.
I put on some background music while I study.
Often appears as...
- background noise
- background sound
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Visual Depth
Use 'background' to describe elements that add depth and layers to a visual scene.
The distant trees created a serene background for the portrait.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Center Stage
'Background' implies something not in the main focus but still contributing to the overall image.
In group photos, shy people often stand in the background.
Pro Tip 1/2Visual Depth
Use 'background' to describe elements that add depth and layers to a visual scene.
The distant trees created a serene background for the portrait.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Center Stage
'Background' implies something not in the main focus but still contributing to the overall image.
In group photos, shy people often stand in the background.
Pro Tip 1/2Visual Depth
Use 'background' to describe elements that add depth and layers to a visual scene.
The distant trees created a serene background for the portrait.
Pro Tip 2/2Not Center Stage
'Background' implies something not in the main focus but still contributing to the overall image.
In group photos, shy people often stand in the background.
Never forget "Background"
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Video examples
What does my headscarf...
you play the same sports, there's a high chance that you're going to want to help that person out. But for the person in the room who has no shared experiences with you it becomes extremely difficult to find that connection. The idea of finding someone different to mentor, someone who doesn't come from the same background as you, whatever that background is,
Video examples
What makes a poem … a...
toe the line between visual art and poetry. Meanwhile, E.E. Cummings wrote poems whose shapes were as important as the words themselves, in this case amplifying the sad loneliness of a single leaf falling through space. If the visual nature of poetry faded into the background, perhaps we'd be left with music,
Video examples
Does grammar matter? -...
about the most common established patterns at a given point in time. This is important, not only for formal contexts, but it also makes communication easier between non-native speakers from different backgrounds. Descriptivism, on the other hand, gives us insight into how our minds work
Video examples
Caribou Spot Wolves...
habituated wolf you can see that she's pretty well camouflaged against her background if you're looking from a long way away against a big landscape you find this wolf pretty hard to spot but that's not how of caribou see the world and to get an idea of what they see I'm
Video examples
Why is this painting so...
A well-dressed child princess refuses a glass of water from a handmaid, while a dwarf teases a dog. A second dwarf stands next to them, while the artist himself pauses at his canvas. Two more people whisper in the background, while a third appears to be exiting the room,
Video examples
How to create cleaner...
the rules that can restrict the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from power plants, and make energy companies around the world wary of what they put into the air. Until then, every time you turn on a screen or flick a light switch, coal is lurking in the background,
Video examples
Everything you need to...
At some point, the order became set in stone and the story was locked into place as the one we read today. But since the world has changed a bit in the last several thousand years, it helps to have some background before jumping in.
Video examples
Gastronomy and the...
people of all different colors and backgrounds and you know what the main ingredient that day was mutual respect we sat down with southern white folks as cousins rather than combatants you know what the ancestors who lived in those
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
Stage and screen engage some of our senses directly. We see and hear the interactions of the characters and the setting. But with prose fiction, all you have is static symbols on a contrasting background.
Video examples
Exploring the Bay of...
you know, these mountains in the background, that are so… it looks like a watercolour. Wow. Endless, it feels like just water that goes on forever.
Video examples
What does my headscarf...
you play the same sports, there's a high chance that you're going to want to help that person out. But for the person in the room who has no shared experiences with you it becomes extremely difficult to find that connection. The idea of finding someone different to mentor, someone who doesn't come from the same background as you, whatever that background is,
Video examples
What makes a poem … a...
toe the line between visual art and poetry. Meanwhile, E.E. Cummings wrote poems whose shapes were as important as the words themselves, in this case amplifying the sad loneliness of a single leaf falling through space. If the visual nature of poetry faded into the background, perhaps we'd be left with music,
Video examples
Does grammar matter? -...
about the most common established patterns at a given point in time. This is important, not only for formal contexts, but it also makes communication easier between non-native speakers from different backgrounds. Descriptivism, on the other hand, gives us insight into how our minds work
Video examples
Caribou Spot Wolves...
habituated wolf you can see that she's pretty well camouflaged against her background if you're looking from a long way away against a big landscape you find this wolf pretty hard to spot but that's not how of caribou see the world and to get an idea of what they see I'm
Video examples
Why is this painting so...
A well-dressed child princess refuses a glass of water from a handmaid, while a dwarf teases a dog. A second dwarf stands next to them, while the artist himself pauses at his canvas. Two more people whisper in the background, while a third appears to be exiting the room,
Video examples
How to create cleaner...
the rules that can restrict the amount of carbon dioxide emitted from power plants, and make energy companies around the world wary of what they put into the air. Until then, every time you turn on a screen or flick a light switch, coal is lurking in the background,
Video examples
Everything you need to...
At some point, the order became set in stone and the story was locked into place as the one we read today. But since the world has changed a bit in the last several thousand years, it helps to have some background before jumping in.
Video examples
Gastronomy and the...
people of all different colors and backgrounds and you know what the main ingredient that day was mutual respect we sat down with southern white folks as cousins rather than combatants you know what the ancestors who lived in those
Video examples
How to write descriptivel...
Stage and screen engage some of our senses directly. We see and hear the interactions of the characters and the setting. But with prose fiction, all you have is static symbols on a contrasting background.
Video examples
Exploring the Bay of...
you know, these mountains in the background, that are so… it looks like a watercolour. Wow. Endless, it feels like just water that goes on forever.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Brad Pitt
Actor
My father came from a very poor background, but I was very fortunate in the sense that we were never in need. My dad was determined to make sure that we didn't want for things. He wanted to give us more opportunity than he had, a better shot at a better life.
Quote examples
Venus Williams
American Tennis Player
I have a lot of good role models in my family for things off the court - like my older sister, who's a lawyer. I don't like writing papers, but she's helped me a lot. It's nice to have an art and business background because they tie together perfectly.
Quote examples
Sonia Sotomayor
American Judge
When you come from a background like mine, where you're entering worlds that are so different than your own, you have to be afraid.
Quote examples
Jerome K. Jerome
English Author
Time is but the shadow of the world upon the background of Eternity.
Quote examples
D. Imman
Indian Musician
The background score plays an important role in black comedies.
Quote examples
Jonathan Franzen
American Novelist
The Mekons were kind of like the background music of my life.
Quote examples
Coco Lee
Chinese Musician
I was bred and raised in a multi-cultural music background.
Quote examples
John Locke
English Philosopher
The discipline of desire is the background of character.
Quote examples
Randy Meisner
A background person is all I've been all my life.
Quote examples
Nyjah Huston
American Athlete
I do come from a very humble background.
Quote examples
Brad Pitt
Actor
My father came from a very poor background, but I was very fortunate in the sense that we were never in need. My dad was determined to make sure that we didn't want for things. He wanted to give us more opportunity than he had, a better shot at a better life.
Quote examples
Venus Williams
American Tennis Player
I have a lot of good role models in my family for things off the court - like my older sister, who's a lawyer. I don't like writing papers, but she's helped me a lot. It's nice to have an art and business background because they tie together perfectly.
Quote examples
Sonia Sotomayor
American Judge
When you come from a background like mine, where you're entering worlds that are so different than your own, you have to be afraid.
Quote examples
Jerome K. Jerome
English Author
Time is but the shadow of the world upon the background of Eternity.
Quote examples
D. Imman
Indian Musician
The background score plays an important role in black comedies.
Quote examples
Jonathan Franzen
American Novelist
The Mekons were kind of like the background music of my life.
Quote examples
Coco Lee
Chinese Musician
I was bred and raised in a multi-cultural music background.
Quote examples
John Locke
English Philosopher
The discipline of desire is the background of character.
Quote examples
Randy Meisner
A background person is all I've been all my life.
Quote examples
Nyjah Huston
American Athlete
I do come from a very humble background.
Example 1 of 10
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