take aback
phrasal verb
took aback; taken aback; taking aback; takes aback
: to surprise or shock (someone)
—usually used as (be) taken aback
When I told him my answer, he seemed taken aback.
—often + byHe was taken aback by her answer.
Examples of take aback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Consuelos was taken aback by LIVE with Kelly and Mark's audience participation on Tuesday, May 28.
—
Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 29 May 2024
Commenters on the post (which also included an older clip of his buddy Leo Messi being inundated by fans outside an Aventura restaurant) were taken aback by how humble and unbothered Beckham was.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024
The family was taken aback: Though the Badens and the Alitos lived just a short distance apart, Barbara Baden couldn’t recall ever communicating with the justice’s wife beyond a neighborly wave.
—Jodi Kantor, New York Times, 28 May 2024
When asked about Green’s contributions, Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, who chairs the powerful House State Affairs Committee, was taken aback by the university president’s involvement in Republican politics.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2024
While critics generally agree that Jonathan Yeo’s portrait of Charles resembles the king, some were taken aback by the artwork’s intense red background.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
On one especially hot and muggy day, we were taken aback when — in a matter of minutes — the broiling sun gave way to rain and then a brief but intense hailstorm.
—George Varga, Twin Cities, 21 May 2024
John Myers, one of the Democratic canvassers, said he was taken aback.
—Madeleine May, CBS News, 20 May 2024
Mitchum, taken aback by the toast, explains to his fellow cast members the reasoning behind his disdain of a Black excellence chant.
—Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 16 May 2024
Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 29 May 2024
Commenters on the post (which also included an older clip of his buddy Leo Messi being inundated by fans outside an Aventura restaurant) were taken aback by how humble and unbothered Beckham was.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024
The family was taken aback: Though the Badens and the Alitos lived just a short distance apart, Barbara Baden couldn’t recall ever communicating with the justice’s wife beyond a neighborly wave.
—Jodi Kantor, New York Times, 28 May 2024
When asked about Green’s contributions, Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, who chairs the powerful House State Affairs Committee, was taken aback by the university president’s involvement in Republican politics.
—Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2024
While critics generally agree that Jonathan Yeo’s portrait of Charles resembles the king, some were taken aback by the artwork’s intense red background.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2024
On one especially hot and muggy day, we were taken aback when — in a matter of minutes — the broiling sun gave way to rain and then a brief but intense hailstorm.
—George Varga, Twin Cities, 21 May 2024
John Myers, one of the Democratic canvassers, said he was taken aback.
—Madeleine May, CBS News, 20 May 2024
Mitchum, taken aback by the toast, explains to his fellow cast members the reasoning behind his disdain of a Black excellence chant.
—Taylor Crumpton, Essence, 16 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take aback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near take aback
Cite this Entry
“Take aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20aback. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share