Standard Lemma guide

offstage

adj · adv · verb · 9 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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  • CMU ARPABET: AO1 F S T EY1 JH Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of or relating to that part of a stage not visible to the audience.

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

Of or relating to the private life of a celebrity.

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

Taking place offstage (as above).

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

4

verb

Meaning 4

To relegate (part of a play) to the offstage area, rather than showing it to the audience.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective

Meaning 5

situated or taking place in the area of a stage not visible to the audience

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • offstage noises

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: onstage

6

adjective satellite

Meaning 6

concealed from public view or attention

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • offstage political meetings

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: backstage

Antonyms: none provided

7

adverb

Meaning 7

not in public

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the deal was done offstage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

adverb

Meaning 8

behind the scenes; not on stage

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the actors were waiting offstage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: onstage

9

noun

Meaning 9

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, backstage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: stage

History

Etymology

From off + stage.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: задкулисен (zadkulisen) — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Japanese: 舞台袖 (butai sode) — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Japanese: ステージ袖 (sutēji sode) — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Polish: zakulisowy — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Spanish: en off — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Spanish: fuera de estrado — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Spanish: fuera de la tarima — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Ukrainian: закулі́сний (zakulísnyj) — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Ukrainian: залаштунко́вий (zalaštunkóvyj) — of that part of a stage not visible to the audience
  • Bulgarian: задкулисно (zadkulisno) — taking place offstage
  • Polish: zakulisowo — taking place offstage
  • Spanish: en off — taking place offstage
  • Spanish: fuera de tarima — taking place offstage
  • Spanish: fuera del estrado — taking place offstage