What does "backdrop" mean?

A decorated cloth hung at the back of a stage.

What is a synonym for "backdrop"?

Common synonyms include: act drop, arena, asbestos, asbestos board, back, backcloth.

//ˈbæk.dɹɑp// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level

Noun

1
A decorated cloth hung at the back of a stage.
2
scenery hung at back of stage wordnet
3
An image that serves as a visual background.
"The president spoke outside the brick exterior of the firehouse for Ladder Company 10 and Engine Company 10, against the backdrop of a 56-foot-long bronze bas-relief depicting the towers in flames."
4
The setting or background of an acted performance.
"Blackpool’s aggregate victory ensures Birmingham are now preparing for a potential summer of change. Manager Chris Hughton has been operating against a backdrop of financial uncertainty all season and last night Peter Pannu, the vice-chairman, announced that the club’s accounts would finally be published next week, and that a new investor had been identified."
5
Any background situation. figuratively
"Against a backdrop of falling interest rates, the new savings account is looking less appealing."

Verb

1
To serve as a backdrop for. transitive
"a brilliant sunset backdropping the famous skyline"

"In the leaden backdrop of the dawn, the horseman stands in silence, the long mane of his horse, disheveled by the wind."

From back + drop.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.