1. the area or scenery behind the main objects or subjects in a picture, view, or scene
2. a person’s education, experience, family history, and social circumstances
3. the circumstances or situation that form the setting for an event or statement

Examples

• The mountains formed a beautiful background for the photograph.
• She comes from a background in engineering and finance.
• The candidates have very different educational backgrounds.
• Let me give you some background on this situation.
• The music played softly in the background during dinner.
• His family background influenced his career choices.
• The report provides background information on the company’s history.