offstage

American  

[awf-steyj, of-] / ˈɔfˈsteɪdʒ, ˈɒf- /

adverb

1. off the stage or in the wings; away from the view of the audience (onstage ).

2. in one's private life rather than on the stage.

   Offstage the actress seemed rather plain.

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adjective

1. not in view of the audience; backstage, in the wings, etc..

   an offstage crash.

2. withheld from public view or attention; private.

   offstage political meetings.

offstage British  

/ ˈɒfˈsteɪdʒ /

adjective

1. out of the view of the audience; off the stage

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Etymology

Origin of offstage

First recorded in 1920–25; off + stage

Example Sentences

Then, he satirizes conservatives’ discomfort with his Blackness by sitting silently as Martin Short, playing a nervous young Republican delivering a hackneyed diatribe, shudders in his presence before scampering offstage to fall apart.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026

The tales give insight into the lives they live offstage and their perspectives as Asian Americans that inspire so much of their material.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

Tsuruko, the eldest, stays largely offstage but exerts a crucial, conservative influence on family affairs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Yeah, the crowd loves it, but I go offstage and I’m not looking for the comments saying, “It was so funny.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2025

When it's done, Tiny and the kid dance offstage to thunderous shouts from the crowd, and as the lights cut.

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan

Related Words

• unauthorized