BACKGROUND Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'background' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of background are environment , milieu , mise-en-scène , and setting . While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development. // the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

Q: Where would 'environment' be a reasonable alternative to 'background'?

While the synonyms environment and background are close in meaning, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development. // the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

Q: When is it sensible to use 'milieu' instead of 'background'?

The synonyms milieu and background are sometimes interchangeable, but milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons. // an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

Q: In what contexts can 'mise-en-scène' take the place of 'background'?

Although the words mise-en-scène and background have much in common, mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect. // a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

Q: When could 'setting' be used to replace 'background'?

The meanings of setting and background largely overlap; however, setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms. // a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

background

noun

ˈbak-ˌ(g)rau̇nd

Definition of background next

as in backdrop

the physical conditions or features that form the setting against which something is viewed they got married on a mountain top with the sunset as background

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in setting

the place and time in which the action for a portion of a dramatic work (as a movie) is set the background of that movie is the World War II era

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word background distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of background are environment, milieu, mise-en-scène, and setting. While all these words mean "the place, time, and circumstances in which something occurs," background often refers to the circumstances or events that precede a phenomenon or development.

the shocking decision was part of the background of the riots

Where would environment be a reasonable alternative to background?

While the synonyms environment and background are close in meaning, environment applies to all the external factors that have a formative influence on one's physical, mental, or moral development.

the kind of environment that produces juvenile delinquents

When is it sensible to use milieu instead of background?

The synonyms milieu and background are sometimes interchangeable, but milieu applies especially to the physical and social surroundings of a person or group of persons.

an intellectual milieu conducive to artistic experimentation

In what contexts can mise-en-scène take the place of background?

Although the words mise-en-scène and background have much in common, mise-en-scène strongly suggests the use of properties to achieve a particular atmosphere or theatrical effect.

a gothic thriller with a carefully crafted mise-en-scène

When could setting be used to replace background?

The meanings of setting and background largely overlap; however, setting suggests looking at real-life situations in literary or dramatic terms.

a militant reformer who was born into an unlikely social setting

Examples 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 background Irvine City Council positions are ostensibly nonpartisan offices, but Park and Liu approach the dais from starkly different political backgrounds. —

Jonathan Horwitz, Orange County Register, 8 Nov. 2024 Gabriel Lázaro-Muñoz, a neuroscientist with a background in law and philosophy, works at the Center for Bioethics at Harvard Medical School. —

Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024 Harris’ talk with Cooper focused on reproductive rights, but also allowed the candidate to give listeners a window into her upbringing and background as a prosecutor. —

Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024 During a rehearsal break, Arnold motioned Savchenko over and asked him to explain a video, in which eagle-eyed fans noticed the background were the same in Savchenko and Nader’s latest posts. —

Esther Kang, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for background

Recent Examples of Synonyms for background

Noun

Multiple fires are burning in Orange County, New York, where County Executive Steve Neuhaus spoke amid a backdrop of overhead-height flames late Sunday afternoon.

Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024
And that moment of Rio using her knife to cut through the backdrop was pointing at that idea.

Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Nov. 2024