backstage
Americanadverb
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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
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located or occurring backstage.
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of or relating to activities unknown to the public.
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of or relating to the private lives of people in the entertainment industry.
backstage gossip.
noun
adverb
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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
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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
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Theater - Introductory
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Reading: Literature - Drama - Middle School
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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.
We’re looking back at the headbands, earrings, shoes, sunglasses and bags that evoked L.A. most — captured backstage by Image contributing photographer Tyler Matthew Oyer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The catering truck was funny because, for once, he disappeared backstage.
From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026
Shortly after this, I was led backstage to his greenroom for my interview.
From Slate ● Jul. 30, 2026
I met Harry several years ago backstage somewhere, and he wanted to just exchange numbers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Three short steps led up to a tiny backstage area.
From "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett
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.
