playback

1 of 2

noun

play·​back ˈplā-ˌbak 

: an act or instance of reproducing recorded sound or pictures often immediately after recording

play back

2 of 2

verb

played back; playing back; plays back

transitive verb

: to perform a playback of (a usually recently recorded disc or tape)

Examples of playback in a Sentence

Noun

The band listened to a playback of their first recording.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Battery life is excellent, with over 30 hours of playback, which should easily get most people through multiple days of use. —PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2025

Outside the flashy design, there’s not a whole lot here that’s screaming $1,500 to us, but maybe the proof will be in the playback. —Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 27 Sep. 2025

Verb

Additionally, the Minnesota Vikings will become the first NFL team to play back-to-back international games with their matchup against the Cleveland Browns in London. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025

Entering their bye week, the Green Bay Packers have played back-to-back disappointing games. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for playback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• buyback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback

Kids Definition

playback

1 of 2 noun

play·​back ˈplā-ˌbak 

: the action of reproducing recorded sound or pictures often immediately after recording

play back

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)plā-ˈbak

: to perform a playback of (a disc or tape)