backstage
Americanadverb
-
behind the proscenium in a theater, especially in the wings or dressing rooms.
-
toward the rear of the stage; upstage.
-
out of view of the public; in private; behind the scenes.
Many of the deals were made backstage at the convention.
adjective
-
located or occurring backstage.
-
of or relating to activities unknown to the public.
-
of or relating to the private lives of people in the entertainment industry.
backstage gossip.
noun
adverb
-
behind the part of the theatre in view of the audience; in the dressing rooms, wings, etc
-
towards the rear of the stage
adjective
-
situated backstage
-
informal away from public view
Etymology
Origin of backstage
Explanation
Backstage is the area of a theater where the actors wait until it's time to walk onstage and play their parts. The audience can't see what's going on backstage. If you get a backstage pass at a rock concert, it means you'll get to go behind the scenes once the show is over, and possibly meet the musicians in person. Many people who are involved in a show, performance, or play stay backstage the whole time: costume designers, makeup directors, and set painters, for example. The word is also sometimes used in a figurative way to mean "secret" or "behind the scenes."
Vocabulary lists containing backstage
Reading: Literature - Drama - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Theater - Introductory
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Reading: Literature - Drama - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Reynor, who recently had a thankless starring role in “Lee Cronin’s The Mummy,” is back on track as this arrogant but talented backstage maestro.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
While he was able to relax backstage before the final, defending champion Humphries and 2021 winner Jonny Clayton were involved in a titanic tussle of their own in the second semi-final.
From BBC • May 28, 2026
“Typically, celebrities can’t wait to go backstage and wait the show out,” said Cohen, whose imprint is publishing Yang and Rogers’s book.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
Moments earlier, US singer Alicia Keys, his special guest for the show, had walked past backstage.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
"Let me go backstage and get Nadia," Ethan suggested.
From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
