backdrop

noun

back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp 

1

: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage

2

: background

backdrop transitive verb

Synonyms of backdrop

• background

Examples of backdrop in a Sentence

The mountains provided a perfect backdrop for the wedding photos.

The novel unfolds against a backdrop of war.

The city provides the backdrop for the love story.

Recent Examples on the Web

Against that backdrop, pupils' complaints that education funding shortfalls are endangering their futures have found a sympathetic audience. — Nicolas Garriga, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

But even with 22 tracks to work with, the sound too often defaults to a similar muted backdrop, which blurs some of the less distinct songs together. — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026

Against this backdrop of growing public concern and calls for a slowdown in frontier AI development, Fortune editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell flew out to San Francisco to speak with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. — Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2026

The Egyptian city and its surroundings will experience more than six minutes of totality, with the temples of ancient Thebes — Karnak and Luxor — the Valley of the Kings necropolis, and its desert backdrop all within the path. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for backdrop

• atop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop
• bookshop
• clatsop
• desktop
• eavesdrop
• estop
• hardtop
• hilltop
• laptop

Kids Definition

backdrop

noun

back·​drop ˈbak-ˌdräp 

1

: a painted cloth hung across the rear of a stage

2

: background sense 1, 3a