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
And when Jake is distracted and momentarily taken aback after getting a fleeting glance of his nephew, Banner fires two bullets into Clyde before Clyde can kill Jake.
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Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 Apr. 2025
Horse farm owner Kacie Bachman said she was also taken aback by the notion that the U.S. government would not be a reliable partner.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for take aback
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Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 6 Apr. 2025
Horse farm owner Kacie Bachman said she was also taken aback by the notion that the U.S. government would not be a reliable partner.
—Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
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
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 24 Apr. 2025.
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