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

The sub-plinth is isolated from the main structure to reduce vibration and enhance playback. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025

The headphones should deliver nine hours of playback per charge in Bluetooth mode or six hours via local storage. —PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2025

Verb

In the Spotify app for both mobile and desktop, the search function was not working and attempts to play back music and podcasts were unsuccessful. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025

They have been used in guidance systems, surgical processes and to play back movies or music from a disc. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025

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)