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

To do so, a company would have to recreate everything from how web pages are rendered and memory is managed, to encryption systems, sandboxing, video playback, and constant security patching. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025

Like last year, Apple promises that the MacBook Pro 14-inch will last a full 24 hours on a single charge in video playback testing, and our tests bear that out. —PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2025

Verb

Bichette is in the final year of his contract with Toronto and was playing back to his All-Star level before the injury. —Hunter Mulholland, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

The head referee called the play back and led Mauer to one sideline. —Tris Wykes, Twin Cities, 21 Oct. 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)