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 + by
He was taken aback by her answer.

Examples of take aback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The chief listened, taken aback as Ariel apologized for showing officers a fake ID. Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 24 Oct. 2024 Stanton appeared taken aback when Cooper asked him why gas prices had risen in recent years. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024 As the tsunami of a possible Swift endorsement rose up following a posting the performer did on Instagram this week with a familiar looking silhouette, Frost now reveals he was taken aback at first. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 9 Aug. 2024 We were taken aback by the remarkable balance this dram strikes; a bargain between sandalwood aromas, creamy vanilla textures, and a chili pepper palate. Brad Japhe, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take aback 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take aback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Take aback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20aback. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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