backdrop

American  

[bak-drop] / ˈbækˌdrɒp /

noun

• backdrops
  plural

1. especially British, back-cloth. Theater. the rear curtain of a stage setting.

2. the background of an event; setting.

3. Gymnastics. a maneuver in which a trampolinist jumps in the air, lands on the back with the arms and legs pointed upward, and then springs up to a standing position.

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verb (used with object)

backdropped, backdropt, backdropping

1. to provide a setting or background for.

   A vast mountain range backdrops the broad expanse of lake.

backdrop British  

/ ˈbækˌdrɒp /

noun

1. another name for backcloth

2. the background to any scene or situation

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Usage

What does backdrop mean? Backdrop refers to the background or setting of a situation or event. It can refer to something physically located in the background of something else, such as a backdrop used for a photo shoot. It can also be used figuratively to refer to circumstances that surround an event, as in a backdrop of scandal and accusations of fraud. More specifically, a backdrop is the curtain that hangs at the back of the stage in a theater, as in We have to fix the rips in the backdrop before the big show. Less commonly, backdrop can also be used as a verb to mean providing a background for something, as in The towering trees backdropped the outdoor photo shoot. Example: The film took place against the backdrop of World War II and featured major events from the war.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• backdrops
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of backdrop

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15; back ¹ + drop

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Explanation

A backdrop is the scenery that hangs behind the actors in a play. You might help to paint the backdrop for your school's production of "The Sound of Music." The backdrop is an important part of a theater production, since it provides a setting for a play or sets a mood for a musical performance. If you're watching a local version of "Oliver!" the backdrop might be designed to look like a London street scene, for example. The noun backdrop comes from US theater slang, from a combination of back and drop around 1913.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

backdrop backdrops backdropped backdropping

Against the backdrop of an unpopular war in Iran, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on July 15, 2026, that the Pentagon would begin testing male service members 30 and older for low testosterone.

From Salon ● Nov. 4, 2026

Periods in which Wall Street’s favorite stocks underperform so dramatically are rare, and they typically occur when the backdrop for corporate earnings, or the broader economy, is beginning to shift, Kantrowitz and his team said.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2026

It is a bleak backdrop, but rather than fret over what lies ahead, Carrick is viewing it as a chance to change the narrative of the season.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

However, the macro backdrop remains unfavorable, marked by volatile oil prices, elevated bond yields, and expectations of higher interest rates that weigh on risk sentiment and diminish crypto appeal.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

When I get to the top, Hilda is posing for Angela, who is taking pictures with the miles and miles of rolling green hills as the backdrop.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya

Protests have continued off and on, and densely-populated Haredi areas are often the backdrops for confrontation with the security forces.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Some backdrops were creepy set dressing, while others had tactile brutality — Sphere often had the rumble-seat effect blaring.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

In the posts that followed, Modi's team appeared to respond to some of that criticism, experimenting with different camera angles, backdrops and lighting.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Hilton said he did a lot of his production work outside, as there are a variety of luxurious backdrops ideal for his commentary.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

Photographic blowups of Fischer and Spassky adorned the windows of almost every shop, with black-and-white checkered displays serving as backdrops for huge papier-mâché chess pieces.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

“It’s the corner of the business with momentum tailwinds, backdropped by AI’s insatiable appetite for energy.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2025

Under a blanket of low-lying clouds, backdropped by the imposing pinnacle of Mount Verstovia, the concept for Windward hit her: A perfectly cooked meal in a pristine natural setting is restorative, even transformative.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2023

By the time about 20 minutes later when the sound managed to grow a notch more, it backdropped the clinching of Morocco’s cherished 2-0 win over favored Belgium, FIFA’s second-ranked team.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 27, 2022

In Early August, my partner and I were awakened by a loud alarm on his phone: “Earthquake alert, earthquake alert,” the phone warned with escalating intensity, backdropped by a soundtrack of fake sirens.

From Slate ● Sep. 3, 2022

Jam looked at her reflection, backdropped by the creature, then wiped her hands over her face.

From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi

Frank tapped L.A. painter Jessalyn Brooks to paint a colorful mural on the cinderblock wall backdropping the pool.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2024

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Related Words

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