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 Perhaps unusually, Hambly doesn’t have a background in animal welfare. —

Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2025 The facts of the complex historical matter are somewhat simplified and compressed, but care is taken to inform the viewer — briefly — that the Mormons were persecuted in Missouri and Illinois and that church founder Joseph Smith was assassinated, to give some background to their defensiveness. —

Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025 Physics of Ned Kahn’s kinetic sculptures Environmental artist and sculptor Ned Kahn is famous for his kinematic building facades, inspired by his own background in science. —

Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024 That studious approach makes sense given his engineering background. —

Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for background

Recent Examples of Synonyms for background

Noun

Against that backdrop, next week is when banks will begin reporting earnings with Citigroup, Goldman Sach, JP Morgan and Wells Fargo all scheduled to report on Wednesday, before the open.

JJ Kinahan, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
The Avery rug in Midnight Blue exemplifies Gilded Age glamour with a constellation of squares and symbols bordering a rich nocturnal backdrop.

Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 9 Jan. 2025