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

For travelers, the kickstand makes a convenient way to watch content on the journey, and the battery provides over 39 hours of video playback. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2026

Coogan and Hays never watch playback of their own show. —Julia Black, Vanity Fair, 8 Jan. 2026

Verb

Melton is still restricted to about 25 minutes a night off the bench, and has not played back-to-backs as team doctor Rick Celebrini remains cautious and patient with Melton’s ramp-up to starter minutes. —Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026

The 49ers will be the 15th team in the past three seasons to play back-to-back short weeks, with the previous 14 splitting the games. —CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026

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)