Word verb
backdrop
v.
US /ˈbækˌdɹɑp/ UK /bˈækdɹɒp/ back·drop UK spelling backdrop's, backdrop's
Definition
- 01 C2 Proficiency
to be the background for something else.
to serve as a background or setting for a person, object, or event.
Simple“Snow-capped mountains backdropped the small town.”
In context“The ancient ruins were dramatically backdropped by a darkening purple sky as the storm approached.”
UsageThis transitive verb is less common than the noun form and often appears in the passive voice.
Real-world usage
“Many consumers are angry at being asked to pay anything more against a backdrop of interruptions to supply sometimes lasting for days, and rivers, lakes and beaches too polluted to use safely.”
“Its effects are being felt against a backdrop of man-made warming, particularly the burning of fossil fuels.”
Etymology
From back + drop.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated