take aback

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 + by

He was taken aback by her answer.

Examples of take aback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The directional pad, used to change what’s shown on the tiny digital instrument cluster that’s mounted oh-so-far-away in this car, is similarly spacious, and overall, I was just taken aback by the lack of a learning curve here. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026

You were very taken aback, specifically by Katie’s payroll comment to Stassi. — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026

McFadden was taken aback by the message and showed her coworkers. — Daniella Segura, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026

When Bruin Agbayani made his first trip to Citi Field as a 12-year-old, he was taken aback by the love Mets fans continued to show his dad, Benny. — Tim Britton, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for take aback

• ammoniac
• biofeedback
• counterattack
• demoniac
• elegiac
• noncardiac
• paranoiac
• ack
• brack
• clack
• crack
• dak