BACKGROUND Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

background

noun

ˈbak-ˌ(g)rau̇nd

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

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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

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 background Williams, who has a background in news and social-media marketing, has worked at Mercor for about six months, watching videos and writing out transcripts of what happens in them, and rating the quality of videos generated by prompts. —

Jake Angelo, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026 There’s a lot of background on the family and the period. —

Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026 Immigration judges typically come from a variety of backgrounds, including immigration enforcement and immigration defense. —

Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 13 Jan. 2026 Hackers stole highly sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, fingerprints and answers to background-investigation questions, some of which included data pertaining to our parents, siblings and children. —

Barbara McQuade, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for background

Recent Examples of Synonyms for background

Noun

The deal has emerged with a backdrop of South Bay rents that are rising far more quickly than the nationwide average.

— George Avalos, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Beyond the slate, the Rendez-Vous opens against a backdrop of shifting export dynamics for French cinema.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Jan. 2026