background

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Thesaurus

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noun

British English pronunciation: background

/ˈbækˌɡraʊnd/

singular	background
plural	backgrounds

Related dictionary definitions

1
[countable] the type of family, social position, or culture that someone comes from
students from very different backgrounds
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background
1. a.
  the type of career, training, or education that someone has had
  His musical background helps him a lot in his job.
  background in:
  We are looking for writers with a background in law.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background
Collocations: background
▪ cultural, disadvantaged, educational, ethnic, middle-class, privileged, religious, social, working-class
2
[singular/uncountable] the general situation in which something happens
background of:
The talks have been taking place against a background of increasing violence.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background
1. a.
  information about what has happened in the past that helps you to understand the present situation
  Let me give you a bit of background about myself.
  background to:
  We need to know the background to the case.
  background information/knowledge/material:
  You’ll need some background information on the local economy.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background
3
[countable] the part of a picture or pattern that is behind the main people or things in it. The main person or thing is in the foreground
a red cross on a white background
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background

phrase

in the background
1. 1
  behind the main person or thing you are looking at
  a picture of palm trees with mountains in the background
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background
2. 2
  a sound in the background can be heard in addition to the main thing you are listening to
  I could hear a TV in the background.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background
3. 3
  in a place or situation in which people do not notice you
  Jo does the publicity work, while Ed stays very much in the background.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of background

This is the British English definition of background. View American English definition of background.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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