Meaning & use
foreground
Last updated
Meanings
nounusually singular
The part of a view, picture, or photograph that appears closest to the viewer.
Grammar: Normally used with the: in the foreground. It rarely takes a plural.
Patterns
- in the foreground
- the foreground of something
A fence stood in the foreground of the painting.
The photographer left the foreground blurry.
Two cows grazed in the foreground while mountains rose behind them.
nounusually singularfigurative
The position of greatest importance or attention.
Grammar: Often figurative: bring something to the foreground.
Patterns
- in the foreground
- come to the foreground
Climate change has moved to the foreground of the debate.
In the story, the mother's struggle stays in the foreground.
Safety must remain in the foreground of every plan.
verbtransitive
To make something the most noticeable or important part.
Grammar: Takes an object: the film foregrounds the family's story.
Patterns
- foreground something
- foreground a theme
The exhibit foregrounds the work of local artists.
The author foregrounds loneliness in the first chapter.
The designer foregrounded the logo with a bright color.
Word forms
| plural | foregrounds |
|---|---|
| third person singular | foregrounds |
| past tense | foregrounded |
| past participle | foregrounded |
| -ing form | foregrounding |
Common combinations
- in the foreground
- The child stands in the foreground of the photo.
- come to the foreground
- Cost has come to the foreground in the discussion.
- foreground and background
- The artist contrasted foreground and background.
- foreground a theme
- The play foregrounds the theme of loyalty.
- push into the foreground
- Events pushed her story into the foreground.
Synonyms and how they differ
- front
- Front is general, but foreground is specific to what is closest in a picture or scene.
- forefront
- Forefront is mostly figurative, meaning the leading position, while foreground can also be literal.
- highlight
- As a verb, highlight means to draw attention to something, while foreground often means making it the main focus of a work.
- emphasize
- Emphasize is a general verb, whereas foreground suggests placing something centrally in a structure or composition.
Opposites
Word family
- background noun
- the part of a scene farthest from the viewer
- midground noun
- the middle area between front and back of a picture
- foregrounding noun
- the act of making something prominent
- ground noun
- the surface of the earth
Commonly confused: foreground or forefront?
foreground vs forefront
Forefront means the very front position in a movement or field; foreground usually describes the part of a view or the focus of attention.
Practice
What does it mean to 'foreground' an issue in a speech?
Choose one answer.
To foreground something is to make it prominent. Mentioning it briefly or hiding it would be the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “foreground”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.