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
Jane, who was taken aback by the encounter, proceeded to walk down the steps to help John gather his things and clean up the coffee.
—
Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
There was another person who was taken aback by the explosion.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Even those inside the Trump administration seemed taken aback by the audacity of the post.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
But investors have recently been taken aback by the administration’s aggressive trade approach, which also includes steep additional tariffs on all U.S. imports of goods from China and a large share of goods from Canada and Mexico.
—Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take aback
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Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
There was another person who was taken aback by the explosion.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2025
Even those inside the Trump administration seemed taken aback by the audacity of the post.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
But investors have recently been taken aback by the administration’s aggressive trade approach, which also includes steep additional tariffs on all U.S. imports of goods from China and a large share of goods from Canada and Mexico.
—Eshe Nelson, New York Times, 27 Mar. 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 4 Apr. 2025.
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