foreground
n. countablen. the part of a picture or view that is closest to you. In computing, it refers to the program or window you are currently using.
n. the portion of a visual field or image that appears nearest to the viewer. In a multitasking environment, it refers to the active process or window currently receiving user input.
The flowers in the foreground are very bright.
While the backup is running in the background, you can keep working on your document in the foreground.
The artist used sharp lines and high contrast for the figures in the foreground to distinguish them from the soft, hazy mountains in the distance.
From fore- + ground. Compare Dutch voorgrond (“foreground”), German Vordergrund (“foreground”), Danish forgrund (“foreground”), Swedish förgrund (“foreground”), Norwegian forgrunn (“foreground”), Icelandic forgrunni (“foreground”).
Often used with the definite article 'the'. In computing contexts, it frequently appears in the phrase 'in the foreground'.