Foreground
/ˈfɔːr.ɡraʊnd/noun
The part of a scene or view that is nearest to the observer, or the most prominent position in attention.
Did you know?“Foreground” is a relatively modern English creation: it began as a literal spatial contrast to “background,” and its rise helped shape how we talk about attention, art, and what gets pushed into shadow.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
fore
“before, in front of, earlier than”
Old English
OE
grund
“bottom, foundation, ground”
Middle English
English
fore ground
“the front part of something; the area nearest the viewer”
17th Century
English
foreground
“the part of a picture or scene nearest the observer”
Modern English
English
foreground
“the visible front part of a scene or the most prominent position in attention”