foreground
1 of 2noun
fore·ground ˈfȯr-ˌgrau̇nd 
1
: the part of a scene or representation that is nearest to and in front of the spectator
Objects in the foreground seem larger than those in the background.
2
: a position of prominence : forefront
We want this issue to be in the foreground.
3
: a level of computer processing at which the processor responds immediately to input to a designated high-priority task compare background
foreground
2 of 2verb
foregrounded; foregrounding; foregrounds
transitive verb
: to bring to the foreground
especially : to give prominence or emphasis to
Synonyms
Verb
- accent
- accentuate
- emphasize
- feature
- highlight
- illuminate
- play up
- point (up)
- press
- punctuate
- stress
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun We want the issue to be in the foreground. Verb Public discussion has foregrounded the issue of health care. repeatedly foregrounded his experience in international affairs in the course of his campaign for the presidency
Recent Examples on the Web
Casey Gerald, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2022 An aerial view of the mills along the Merrimack River in Lawrence, with Route 495 in the foreground. Andrew Brinker, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 In the foreground, Ned and Will slink furtively from one bolt-hole to another before finding refuge in sympathetic homesteads. Boyd Tonkin, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Poitier’s career as a leading Black actor blossomed in the late ’50 to mid ’60s, while America’s race relations boiled over in the foreground. Essence, 20 Aug. 2022 Queen Elizabeth is in the background, and Richard is in the foreground, in glasses. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 20 Aug. 2022 One big change over the past seven years has been the emergence of several literacy curricula that put rich content rather than skills in the foreground. Natalie Wexler, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Tom Perez, the former Democratic National Committee chairman running for governor of Maryland, said crime had moved to the foreground of the midterms. New York Times, 3 June 2022 At one point, a Stormtrooper appeared as a hologram in the foreground of the screen. Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022 Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2022 Among the elements that Walder wants to foreground in his first go-round as artistic director are the festival’s strong cross-media and interdisciplinary bonafides. Ben Croll, Variety, 23 June 2022 Many in the political press are reluctant to foreground these facts because Trump has not been convicted of a crime. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 15 July 2022 In an action that a fictional narrative would foreground to establish character, Ford attempts to adjust her microphone to accommodate Grassley’s request. Lesley Finn, Longreads, 7 July 2022 Their economical sets foreground the handmade ingenuity of humans living off a barren land, hinting at the more technologically advanced world of the citadels via the ghostly, tentacled structures that loom menacingly on the horizon. Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 July 2022 Parks’ resulting photographs from Penola—dramatically staged and lit, striking in their compositions— foreground the importance of the story of industry and war preparation in the U.S., a source of pride for the workers and people of Pittsburgh. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 8 June 2022 News coverage of the war in Ukraine continues to foreground interesting words, such as sanctions and flywheel. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2022 Seyfried is careful to foreground those qualities in her own work. Caroline Framke, Variety, 5 May 2022 See More
Noun
In the foreground, far from the crowds in the distance, lies a beautiful young Black man, his back to debris left in the sand. Casey Gerald, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2022 An aerial view of the mills along the Merrimack River in Lawrence, with Route 495 in the foreground. Andrew Brinker, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Sep. 2022 In the foreground, Ned and Will slink furtively from one bolt-hole to another before finding refuge in sympathetic homesteads. Boyd Tonkin, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Poitier’s career as a leading Black actor blossomed in the late ’50 to mid ’60s, while America’s race relations boiled over in the foreground. Essence, 20 Aug. 2022 Queen Elizabeth is in the background, and Richard is in the foreground, in glasses. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 20 Aug. 2022 One big change over the past seven years has been the emergence of several literacy curricula that put rich content rather than skills in the foreground. Natalie Wexler, Forbes, 16 Aug. 2022 Tom Perez, the former Democratic National Committee chairman running for governor of Maryland, said crime had moved to the foreground of the midterms. New York Times, 3 June 2022 At one point, a Stormtrooper appeared as a hologram in the foreground of the screen. Neima Jahromi, The New Yorker, 23 May 2022 Verb
Shows such as Industry just foreground cinematic reveries, social commentary, and backstory digressions that are all, in a way, also forms of expectation-fulfilling action. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 16 Aug. 2022 Among the elements that Walder wants to foreground in his first go-round as artistic director are the festival’s strong cross-media and interdisciplinary bonafides. Ben Croll, Variety, 23 June 2022 Many in the political press are reluctant to foreground these facts because Trump has not been convicted of a crime. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 15 July 2022 In an action that a fictional narrative would foreground to establish character, Ford attempts to adjust her microphone to accommodate Grassley’s request. Lesley Finn, Longreads, 7 July 2022 Their economical sets foreground the handmade ingenuity of humans living off a barren land, hinting at the more technologically advanced world of the citadels via the ghostly, tentacled structures that loom menacingly on the horizon. Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 July 2022 Parks’ resulting photographs from Penola—dramatically staged and lit, striking in their compositions— foreground the importance of the story of industry and war preparation in the U.S., a source of pride for the workers and people of Pittsburgh. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 8 June 2022 News coverage of the war in Ukraine continues to foreground interesting words, such as sanctions and flywheel. Melissa Mohr, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2022 Seyfried is careful to foreground those qualities in her own work. Caroline Framke, Variety, 5 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1695, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1892, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
foreground
noun
fore·ground ˈfȯr-ˌgrau̇nd
: the part of a picture or scene that seems to be nearest to and in front of the person looking at it
foregrounding
verb
as in emphasizing
to indicate the importance of by centering attention on repeatedly foregrounded his experience in international affairs in the course of his campaign for the presidency Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- emphasizing
- highlighting
- stressing
- featuring
- punctuating
- accenting
- accentuating
- identifying
- illuminating
- focusing
- bearing down on
- pressing
- spotlighting
- playing up
- promoting
- advertising
- publicizing
- focussing
- pinpointing
- pointing (up)
- making much of
- plugging
- overplaying
- boosting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimizing
- de-emphasizing
- underemphasizing
- understating
- discounting
- toning (down)
- disparaging
- belittling
- playing down
- applying (for)
- applying (oneself)
- applying (to)
- applying for
- applying oneself
- applying to
- appmt
- appoggiatura
- appoggiaturas
- appoint
- appointed
- appointee
- appointees
- appointing
- appointive
- appointment
- appointment television
- appointment TV
- appointments
- appointor
- appointors
- appoints
- Appomattox Court House
- apport
- apportion