adj · adv · noun · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/bækˈsteɪd͡ʒ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪdʒ
CMU ARPABET:B AE1 K S T EY1 JH
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Relating to, or situated in the area behind a stage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Secret, concealed from the public.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
Towards the area behind the stage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
Out of view of the public.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The area behind a stage out of view of the audience where performers wait to give their show; especially that of the dressing rooms.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
The private portion of the space used by a business or enterprise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adjective satellite
Meaning 7
concealed from public view or attention
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
offstage political meetings
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: offstage
Antonyms: none provided
8
adverb
Meaning 8
in or to a backstage area of a theater
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
costumes were changed backstage
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
adverb
Meaning 9
out of view of the public; behind the scenes
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Working backstage to gain political support for his proposal
many private deals were made backstage at the convention
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
a stage area out of sight of the audience
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wing, offstage
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: stage
History
Etymology
From back + stage.
Across languages
Translations
55 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
كَوَالِيس
(kawālīs)
— behind a stage
Bulgarian:
задкулисен
(zadkulisen)
— behind a stage
Czech:
zákulisní
— behind a stage
Esperanto:
kuliso
— behind a stage
Finnish:
kulissien takainen
— behind a stage
French:
coulisses
— behind a stage
German:
backstage
— behind a stage
Icelandic:
baktjalda-
— behind a stage
Icelandic:
baksviðs-
— behind a stage
Portuguese:
bastidores
— behind a stage
Russian:
закули́сный
(zakulísnyj)
— behind a stage
Ukrainian:
закулі́сний
(zakulísnyj)
— behind a stage
Ukrainian:
залаштунко́вий
(zalaštunkóvyj)
— behind a stage
