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
He was taken aback by how early allergy season arrived in Nevada.
—
Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Mockovak was taken aback when his fellow soldiers complained that the French bartenders managed only passable English.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Zenovich says that while she was taken aback by Chase’s response, she was also relieved.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Dec. 2025
Portugal's foreign minister, Paulo Rangel, said Friday that the government was taken aback by revelations that a Portuguese man is the main suspect in the mass shooting at Brown and the killing of Loureiro.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 2025
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Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026
Mockovak was taken aback when his fellow soldiers complained that the French bartenders managed only passable English.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 11 Jan. 2026
Zenovich says that while she was taken aback by Chase’s response, she was also relieved.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Dec. 2025
Portugal's foreign minister, Paulo Rangel, said Friday that the government was taken aback by revelations that a Portuguese man is the main suspect in the mass shooting at Brown and the killing of Loureiro.
—Arkansas Online, 20 Dec. 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 22 Jan. 2026.
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