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
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
When the two met, they were taken aback by the paucity of Spanish-language literature available in Los Angeles.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
Still, even Thomas was taken aback to learn in recent days that building owner Jim Crockarell — principal of Madison Equities — had died in January and that his widow has put the Alliance Center and five other office buildings on the market.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 May 2024
Business owners Joseph and Patricia Elmore had hoped summer’s brisker business would make up for slower winter sales and were taken aback when the lease was not renewed.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024
The three-time gold medalist was seemingly taken aback by the rapper’s largesse.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
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
When the two met, they were taken aback by the paucity of Spanish-language literature available in Los Angeles.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
Still, even Thomas was taken aback to learn in recent days that building owner Jim Crockarell — principal of Madison Equities — had died in January and that his widow has put the Alliance Center and five other office buildings on the market.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 10 May 2024
Business owners Joseph and Patricia Elmore had hoped summer’s brisker business would make up for slower winter sales and were taken aback when the lease was not renewed.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024
The three-time gold medalist was seemingly taken aback by the rapper’s largesse.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 7 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.
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Cite this Entry
“Take aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20aback. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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