From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishldoce_014_dbackgroundback‧ground /ˈbækɡraʊnd/ ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 [countable]SS someone’s family, education, previous work etc Students with a background in chemistry will probably find the course easier. It’s important to understand other people, people from different backgrounds. Do you know anything about his background?2 [countable, uncountable]PAST the situation or past events that explain why something happens in the way that it doesbackground to Without knowing the background to the case, I couldn’t possibly comment.against a background of something The peace talks are being held against a background of increasing violence.background information/details/data etc The author included a new chapter of background material for the second edition of the book.3 [countable usually singular]BEHIND the area that is behind the main thing that you are looking at, especially in a picture The background looks out of focus.in the background In the background, you can see my college friends.4 [countable]AVC the pattern or colour on top of which something has been drawn, printed etc red lettering on a white background5 → in the background6 [countable, uncountable]C the sounds that you can hear apart from the main thing that you are listening toin the background In the background, I could hear the sound of traffic. All of the background noise made it difficult to have a phone conversation.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesfamily backgroundMany kids lack a stable family background.social backgroundUniversities aim to attract students from varied social backgrounds.cultural backgroundSome of his attitudes were due to his cultural background.ethnic backgroundWe do not discriminate against people because of their ethnic background or gender.class backgroundClass background is an important factor in the level of schooling achieved.socio-economic backgroundSmokers often come from poorer socio-economic backgrounds.educational/academic backgroundThe interviewer will ask you about your educational background and work experience.Postgraduate students come from a wide range of academic backgrounds.professional backgroundManagers can come from a wide range of professional backgrounds.a working-class/middle-class backgroundI came from a very poor working-class background.a deprived/disadvantaged backgroundThe school has a high percentage of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.a poor backgroundHis poor background prevented him from going to medical college.a privileged/wealthy backgroundAll the top jobs were taken by people from privileged backgrounds.verbshave a background (in something)We are looking for someone who has a background in science.come from a backgroundMark and I came from very similar backgrounds.phrasesa range of backgroundsPeople from a wide range of backgrounds go to watch football.
Examples from the Corpus
background• The elections are taking place against a background of widespread unemployment.• Steve has a background in computer engineering.• McWilliams said a background check would have revealed little because the man had no criminal record.• She would have preferred a woman of her own age and background.• Most of his friends were from similar middle-class backgrounds.• The organization helps children from working-class backgrounds to go to university.• Gary always tried to hide his working class background.• Passing sentence, Lord Sutherland said he took into account Hynd's domestic background.• In our class we have children of all different religious and ethnic backgrounds.• The school takes kids from all sorts of backgrounds.• The grating broadcasts sometimes switched to tapes of radio call-in shows and other background sounds of an electronic civilization.• And using Cousin Franklin as a premier background source, Joe was able to add considerably to his wealth and fame.• All of the men have different religious backgrounds.• It took five years for the author to research background information for her new book• The flag's five orange stripes stand out against a silver background.• Sylvie had always expected that she would marry someone of a similar background to herself.• We come from the same town and share a similar background.• O'Connor had had sentence deferred for psychiatric and social background reports last month.• It was a photo of everyone in my class, with the school building in the background.• A small building in the background of the original picture was a church built in 1882, McLelland said.• How quickly kids learn to read will often depend on both their ability and their backgrounds.• The invitations had red lettering on a white background.• If she was stuck with wanting a man whose background and conditioning were alien to her, then that was her problem.from different backgrounds• They come from different backgrounds and from a wide area.• Lesbian Women with Disabilities and Health - A 10 week course for lesbian women with disabilities from different backgrounds and situations.• The found the opportunity to learn from fellow managers from different backgrounds invaluable, particularly those from outside financial services.• We love matching people from different backgrounds who don't know each other.• You know I've always believed that people from different backgrounds shouldn't mix, it's not fair on the children.• Making it work with people from different backgrounds and different cultures can be exciting and life-enhancing.• A regular fortnightly meeting of practitioners from different backgrounds, with a shared task, helped to develop trust over time.• Six different nationalities were represented, ages were from 24 to 35 and all were from different backgrounds.against a background of something• The grassed oval arena, with its high embankment against a background of slender trees, should be visited.• It stood upright, balancing on its head against a background of indigo blue.• Art is judged against a background of an aesthetic theory: preferences are entirely subjective.• Conversation was carried on against a background of ear-splitting barking.• These developments took place against a background of growing activism on the abortion issue in the country at large.• I remember it as I saw it one evening, lit by the setting sun against a background of threatening clouds.• Punitive methods persistently used against a background of rejecting, hostile parental attitudes lead, in the long term, to trouble.• The dark shape was still visible against a background of dimly lit beams.in the background• Again, a palm across the mouthpiece and the drone of conversation in the background.• Some piano music tinkles gently in the background, a black Armani shirt clings softly to his chest.• This is an ideal species to be grown in the background of the tank and will give it a very natural look.• Tutilo hovered in the background, keeping himself modestly apart while his betters conferred.• Looming in the background are always the twin prospects of sudden incalculable wealth and instant agonizing death.• Lurking in the background, too, are the constant takeover rumors about the bank, the largest in Florida.• Fred Bradley stayed very much in the background and his soft, kind eyes helped to put her at ease.• A television was on in the background.• She saw Lee hoist the baby on his shoulder, with people passing in the background.• In the photograph, a statue of St. Andrew stood in the background.• Whitfield's mother stood in the background as he talked to reporters.• Palm trees swayed in the background.• While I was on the phone with Julie, I could hear the sound of a television in the background.in the background• Again, a palm across the mouthpiece and the drone of conversation in the background.• Some piano music tinkles gently in the background, a black Armani shirt clings softly to his chest.• This is an ideal species to be grown in the background of the tank and will give it a very natural look.• Tutilo hovered in the background, keeping himself modestly apart while his betters conferred.• Looming in the background are always the twin prospects of sudden incalculable wealth and instant agonizing death.• Lurking in the background, too, are the constant takeover rumors about the bank, the largest in Florida.• Fred Bradley stayed very much in the background and his soft, kind eyes helped to put her at ease.• She saw Lee hoist the baby on his shoulder, with people passing in the background.From Longman Business Dictionarybackgroundback‧ground /ˈbækgraʊnd/ noun [countable]1HUMAN RESOURCES someone’s past, for example their education, qualifications, and the jobs they have hadWe are looking for someone with a background in tourism.2in the backgroundCOMPUTING a computer program working in the background continues to function and do calculations while the user is working with another program 