background
What's behind you
Background is what lies behind something more prominent.
A painting has figures in the foreground and scenery in the background.
A person's background is their history—education, experience, family origins: She has a background in finance.
Background music or noise exists without being the focus of attention.
To background something is to make it less prominent.
In the background means present but not central: He prefers to stay in the background.
Heavy woven cloth
- textureSurface tactile quality
- negative spaceEmpty area around forms
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
- contrastNotable difference between things
midground · gradient · wash · tone · shading · depth · layer · fill
Conditions affecting an event
- situationState of affairs
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
- milieuSocial or cultural surroundings
scenario · setting · environment · landscape · arena · domain · sphere · underlying
Family line of descent
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- rootsUnderground nutrient absorbers
- birthplaceLocation of one's birth
homeland · provenance · ethnicity · nationality · upbringing · culture · family · socioeconomic
Visible natural surroundings
- stageRaised performance platform
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
- cycloramaCurved infinite-background wall
- screenDisplay or barrier
panorama · tableau · proscenium · flats · wings · backcloth · scrim · silhouette
Time already gone
- recordPreserved account or achievement
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
- credentialsEvidence of qualification or identity
- resumeCareer summary document
CV · profile · track record · employment history · education · qualifications · training · expertise
Low steady sound
- buzzContinuous low drone
- murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- whirContinuous humming sound
static · white noise · chatter · rumble · ambient · soundscape · filler · underscore
Not perceived by anyone
- unobtrusiveNot readily noticed
- behind the scenesOut of public view
- supportingBearing or sustaining
- secondaryLesser in rank
peripheral · minor · wallflower · anonymous · invisible · overlooked · understated · low-profile
canvas
Heavy woven cloth
- textureSurface tactile quality
- negative spaceEmpty area around forms
- compositionArranged elements forming whole
contrast · midground · gradient · wash · tone · shading · depth · layer · fill · matte
circumstances
Conditions affecting an event
- situationState of affairs
- frameworkUnderlying support system
- conditionsPrevailing state of affairs
milieu · scenario · setting · environment · landscape · arena · domain · sphere · underlying · subtext
ancestry
Family line of descent
birthplace · homeland · provenance · ethnicity · nationality · upbringing · culture · family · socioeconomic · class
scenery
Visible natural surroundings
- stageRaised performance platform
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
- cycloramaCurved infinite-background wall
screen · panorama · tableau · proscenium · flats · wings · backcloth · scrim · silhouette · set design
past
Time already gone
- recordPreserved account or achievement
- experiencePractical knowledge from life
- credentialsEvidence of qualification or identity
resume · CV · profile · track record · employment history · education · qualifications · training · expertise · career
hum
Low steady sound
whir · static · white noise · chatter · rumble · ambient · soundscape · filler · underscore · atmosphere
unnoticed
Not perceived by anyone
- unobtrusiveNot readily noticed
- behind the scenesOut of public view
- supportingBearing or sustaining
secondary · peripheral · minor · wallflower · anonymous · invisible · overlooked · understated · low-profile · quiet
- artfine art, Renaissance, painters, masterpieces, paint
- comicscomic books, comic book, comic strip, comic art, comic panel
- graphicsvector, shapes, 3D graphics, raster, symbols
- identityidentity, personal identity, self, selfhood, self-expression
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- Aquarium Decordriftwood, rocks, caves, plants, shells
backgroundforeground
Nearest visual plane
forefront · front · center stage · focal point · surface
backgroundfocus
Concentrated attention point
spotlight · foreground · highlight · center of attention · limelight
- background musicAudio meant to accompany
- background noiseIncidental surrounding sounds
- background checkInvestigation of someone's history
- background radiationResidual energy from early universe
backgrounds, backgrounded, backgrounding, backgrounder, background check, background music, background checks, backgrounders, background radiation