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 entire Dancing With the Stars ballroom was taken aback on Tuesday, after guest judge Shirley Ballas delivered her first score of the night. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2026

Kate walked in a fashion show wearing a sheer dress, and William was reportedly taken aback. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 16 Oct. 2026

Ebersol was so taken aback by this outburst that he was rendered momentarily speechless. — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

Grigory Yavlinsky, a co-founder of Yabloko and a prominent liberal Russian politician, told CNN that the Kremlin was taken aback by support for the party and its core message calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine. — Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for take aback

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