background
/ˈbækɡraʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbækɡraʊnd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbak-ˌ(g)rau̇nd/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbæk.ɡraʊnd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbæk.ɡraʊnd/ (ame, ipa)
background — noun
1. whatever sits further from the viewer in a picture, photo, or scene — the surfac
whatever sits further from the viewer in a picture, photo, or scene — the surface or area that frames whoever or whatever is the main subject.
In Camille's wedding photo, snowy mountains rise in the background.
phrase: in the background
The artist painted Tariq against a deep red background.
pattern: against a [colour] background
You can just see Quinn waving in the background of this photo.
The studio used a plain white background for all the staff portraits.
- foreground
the part of a picture nearest the viewer
文法句型
in the background
against a [colour] background
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the fixed phrase 'in the background' and after prepositions like 'against'. Contrast with sense 7 (computer wallpaper) and sense 5 (low-attention position).
常見錯誤
2. quieter sounds, especially music or voices, that you can hear while something lo
quieter sounds, especially music or voices, that you can hear while something louder or more important is happening.
Soft jazz played in the background while the diners chatted.
collocation: play in the background
I could hear a baby crying in the background of Quinn's phone call.
The cafe always has the radio on quietly in the background.
Background music in the shop made it feel calm and welcoming.
- ambient sound
more technical, used in audio production
- backing track
specifically a recorded music layer behind a singer
文法句型
in the background
用法筆記
Often forms compound nouns: 'background music', 'background noise', 'background chatter'. Distinguish from sense 1 (visual) — this sense is purely auditory.
常見錯誤
3. earlier events and surrounding conditions that explain why a particular situatio
earlier events and surrounding conditions that explain why a particular situation developed the way it did.
The journalist explained the political background to the protests in Hong Kong.
pattern: background to [event]
Against this background of rising prices, many families cut back on travel.
phrase: against a/the background of
To understand the war, you need to know its historical background.
The report described the background of the company's sudden collapse.
- context
more general; can apply to any situation, not just history
- circumstances
focuses on conditions surrounding the event
文法句型
the background to/of [event]
against a/the background of
用法筆記
Used with prepositions 'to' and 'of' to link to a specific event. Distinguish from sense 4 (general explanatory information not tied to one event) and sense 6 (a person's life history).
常見錯誤
4. the basic facts about a topic that someone needs to know in order to understand
the basic facts about a topic that someone needs to know in order to understand it properly.
Dr. Una gave us some background on the experiment before we began.
pattern: background on [topic]
The article provides useful background for readers new to the subject.
Could you send me a bit of background before tomorrow's meeting with the client?
The teacher offered background information on the novel's author and time period.
文法句型
background on [topic]
background information
用法筆記
Often paired with 'information', 'reading', or 'briefing'. Differs from sense 3 in scope: sense 3 explains a specific event's causes, while this sense supplies general orientation on a topic.
常見錯誤
5. a position where a person or thing is not the focus of attention — for example,
a position where a person or thing is not the focus of attention — for example, a quiet team member at a meeting, or an issue people have stopped paying attention to.
The CEO prefers to stay in the background and let her managers speak.
phrase: stay in the background
The privacy debate has faded into the background since the election.
phrase: fade into the background
Quinn is happy to work in the background while his partner takes the credit.
Older issues like roads and schools dropped into the background during the campaign.
- behind the scenes
stresses doing work others do not see
- out of the spotlight
stresses avoiding public attention
文法句型
in the background
stay/remain/fade into the background
用法筆記
Almost always in fixed phrases with verbs of motion or staying: stay / remain / fade / slip / drop into the background. Subject is usually a person, role, or topic — not a physical object.
常見錯誤
6. the kind of family someone grew up in, plus their school history, jobs, and life
the kind of family someone grew up in, plus their school history, jobs, and life experience.
Tariq comes from a working-class background in northern Taiwan.
pattern: from a ... background
The school welcomes children from many different cultural backgrounds.
collocation: cultural / ethnic background
Tell us a little about your background and previous jobs, Mr. Singh.
Pia has a strong background in software engineering.
Her musical background made her perfect for the choir director job.
- upbringing
focuses on how a person was raised by their family
- history
broader; covers more than just family and education
文法句型
a [adj] background
from a ... background
用法筆記
Common adjective + background pairs: family, cultural, ethnic, educational, working-class, musical. Use 'background in [field]' for professional experience.
常見錯誤
7. the picture or colour shown on a phone or computer screen, behind any icons, app
the picture or colour shown on a phone or computer screen, behind any icons, apps, or open windows.
Camille set a photo of her dog as the background on her laptop.
collocation: set as the background
You can change the background by long-pressing on the home screen.
collocation: change the background
The default background on the new phone is a blue mountain scene.
Quinn picked a dark background so the icons would stand out.
- wallpaper
more common in phone settings menus
- desktop image
specifically the picture on a computer desktop
文法句型
change/set the background
用法筆記
Synonymous with 'wallpaper' in everyday speech, especially on phones. Distinguish from sense 8 (background tasks/processes).
8. an app, task, or program that keeps running on a device while the user is busy w
an app, task, or program that keeps running on a device while the user is busy with something else on the screen.
The music app keeps playing in the background while Tariq checks his email.
phrase: run in the background
Too many background apps were draining Quinn's phone battery.
compound noun: background apps
The file is uploading in the background, so you can keep working.
While Tariq edited photos, his antivirus app quietly ran as a background process the whole time.
- background process
the technical term used by operating systems
- foreground
the app or task currently shown on screen
文法句型
run in the background
background app/task/process
用法筆記
Usually appears with verbs like 'run', 'play', 'sync', or 'upload' plus 'in the background'. Distinguish from sense 7, which refers to the visible image, not active tasks.
常見錯誤
background — adjective
1. describing something you do or read in advance to prepare yourself for a bigger
describing something you do or read in advance to prepare yourself for a bigger task that follows.
Dr. Una asked the students to do some background reading before the seminar.
compound: background reading
The reporter spent two weeks on background research before writing the story.
compound: background research
Most companies now run a background check on every new employee.
Tariq took a few background notes so he could ask better questions later.
- preparatory
more formal; broader, not tied to fixed compounds
- preliminary
stresses 'first stage', not necessarily for self-preparation
文法句型
background + noun (reading, research, check)
用法筆記
Almost always in fixed compounds: 'background reading', 'background research', 'background check', 'background notes'. The adjective sits directly before the noun and is not used after a verb (no 'the reading is background').
常見錯誤
background — verb
1. to place a coloured surface, image, or scene behind something so that it stands
to place a coloured surface, image, or scene behind something so that it stands out more clearly.
The designer backgrounded each product photo with a soft grey panel.
transitive: background + noun + with [colour]
Tariq's wedding portrait was backgrounded by tall pine trees and a misty lake.
passive: be backgrounded by
The museum backgrounded the gold coins with deep red velvet.
Stagehands backgrounded the singer with a starry night scene.
- set against
more common in everyday writing
- frame
stresses surrounding all sides, not just behind
文法句型
background + noun
be backgrounded by/with
用法筆記
Rare and chiefly used in design, photography, and theatre contexts. The 'backdrop' is introduced with 'with' (the material) or 'by' (in the passive).
常見錯誤
2. to treat a topic, fact, or person as less important than they really are by givi
to treat a topic, fact, or person as less important than they really are by giving them little space or attention.
Critics said the documentary backgrounded the role of women in the war.
transitive: background + noun
The newspaper backgrounded the economic risks and stressed the political win.
Director Maria's own achievements were quietly backgrounded by the studio throughout awards season.
The textbook backgrounds local cultures and focuses on European history.
- downplay
much more common in everyday English
- marginalise
stronger; suggests pushing to the edge of importance
- foreground
to give special prominence to something
- highlight
to draw attention to
文法句型
background + noun
用法筆記
Often appears alongside a contrasting verb such as 'foreground', 'highlight', or 'stress', showing what the writer chose to emphasise instead.