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
The legendary star was taken aback, Witherspoon shared, by the teen from Nashville’s strong southern accent.
—
Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
The expression taken aback probably conjures up in your mind an image of a person caught off guard and staggering backwards.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
When her cousin, Hamzah Abushaban, visited Kordia about a week after her arrest, he was taken aback by the dark circles under her eyes and her state of confusion.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Senior White House officials were taken aback by the anger expressed by farmers and others in the agricultural sector after the first report was released, according to lobbyists who worked with companies and groups involved in some of these discussions and who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take aback
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Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
The expression taken aback probably conjures up in your mind an image of a person caught off guard and staggering backwards.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Oct. 2025
When her cousin, Hamzah Abushaban, visited Kordia about a week after her arrest, he was taken aback by the dark circles under her eyes and her state of confusion.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Senior White House officials were taken aback by the anger expressed by farmers and others in the agricultural sector after the first report was released, according to lobbyists who worked with companies and groups involved in some of these discussions and who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
—Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take aback
Cite this Entry
“Take aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20aback. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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