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

The 71-watt-hour battery supports fast charging, and Acer rates it for up to 30 hours of video playback (specifically on the P6’s IPS panel configuration). —John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026

From the next room, Beckham’s longtime creative director watches the playback on her monitor and snaps into action. —Maneet Ahuja, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026

Verb

Last season’s Vikings were the first to play back-to-back international games in different countries, losing in Ireland to the Pittsburgh Steelers, then winning in London against the Cleveland Browns. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 May 2026

Down to shortstops, the Mets have Bichette and Brett Baty playing back at their natural positions. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for playback

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

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)