The background of something is what's behind it or what came before it. When you pose for a photo in front of the Grand Canyon, you're in the foreground and the canyon is the background. When an artist paints a portrait, they usually paint the person first, then fill in the background with scenery or colors.

Background also means the experiences, knowledge, and circumstances that shaped someone or something. Your background includes where you grew up, what languages you speak, what your family is like, and what experiences you've had. A doctor with a background in research thinks differently than one with a background in emergency medicine because their experiences trained them in different ways.

In music or movies, background describes sounds that support the main action without drawing attention to themselves. Background music in a restaurant creates atmosphere without overpowering conversation. Background noise might be traffic sounds outside or people talking nearby while you're trying to concentrate.

When you do something in the background, you're doing it quietly without making it the main focus. You might do homework while music plays in the background, or a computer program might run in the background while you play a game.