Aback
adverb
Surprised or shocked, not ready for something.
She was taken aback by his angry retort.
Often appears as...
- taken aback
- single aback
adverb
Surprised or shocked, not ready for something.
She was taken aback by his angry retort.
Often appears as...
- taken aback
- single aback
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Events
Use 'aback' when something happens that is so surprising it makes someone temporarily confused or bewildered.
The sudden resignation of the manager took everyone aback.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Conveys a strong emotional response, usually related to surprise or shock, not just a casual reaction.
I was taken aback by the sheer number of people at the rally.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Surprise
Often implies a negative connotation, suggesting the surprise is not pleasant or welcome.
She was taken aback when she found out she was being laid off.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Events
Use 'aback' when something happens that is so surprising it makes someone temporarily confused or bewildered.
The sudden resignation of the manager took everyone aback.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Conveys a strong emotional response, usually related to surprise or shock, not just a casual reaction.
I was taken aback by the sheer number of people at the rally.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Surprise
Often implies a negative connotation, suggesting the surprise is not pleasant or welcome.
She was taken aback when she found out she was being laid off.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Events
Use 'aback' when something happens that is so surprising it makes someone temporarily confused or bewildered.
The sudden resignation of the manager took everyone aback.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Impact
Conveys a strong emotional response, usually related to surprise or shock, not just a casual reaction.
I was taken aback by the sheer number of people at the rally.
Pro Tip 3/3Negative Surprise
Often implies a negative connotation, suggesting the surprise is not pleasant or welcome.
She was taken aback when she found out she was being laid off.
Compare with
astonishbewilderdumbfoundflabbergastnonplussedstartlesurprise, surprisethunderstruck
Never forget "Aback"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
How we can improve...
Well, around the same time in residency that this new mother lost her life, I became a mother myself. And even with all of my background and training in the field, I was taken aback by how little attention was paid to delivering high-quality maternal health care. And I thought about what that meant, not just for myself
Video examples
Travelers of the Year PIPE...
we saw Ethan had standing in front of this massive elephant had both hands placed like this his eyes shut right up close to the elephant on the elephant's forehead um and we were just all sort of taken aback I thought this thing could crush but he felt such a connection with that elephant and was so at peace and I
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 210 PIPE...
she stood up to Tandy and she really did fight for her her life so to speak and she was incredibly good at defending ourselves she really did defend herself very well and I was surprised I mean in fact she got a few blows to Tandy Tandy ended up with a few claw marks on her face I think tiny was taken aback
Video examples
What if a single human...
she was malnourished, she had never gone to school and she had spent most of her life confined to this small, dark room. When we left, I asked the social worker what the case plan was, and she said, "Well first, we have to get her a birth certificate." I was a little taken aback.
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
But when you look at them, they're not motivated by what they read in their holy book. It's their brutality that makes them read these things into the scripture. Recently, a prominent imam told me a story that really took me aback. He said that a girl came to him
Video examples
Love, no matter what PIPE...
to write a piece about Deaf culture. And I was rather taken aback. I had thought of deafness entirely as an those poor people, they couldn't hear, they lacked hearing, and what could we do for them? And then I went out into the Deaf world. I went to Deaf clubs.
Video examples
David Letterman Goes to...
the world so we've got to have an energy system that provides to the people and for the economy we got here in the old part of town and they've looked around and he was a little taken aback by the electricity wires or tangled up honest to god what
Video examples
"Stumbling towards...
so our fear receptors often will be going off in advance of any of our cognitive usage around verbal and words and cues of language. So as we see these fear moments, we of course are taken aback.
Video examples
The myth of bringing...
I should try to be more agreeable to help give others a win. If I did have feedback, she advised that I send it over email instead. Honestly, I was taken aback.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 42 PIPE...
took down a topi a fully grown adult topi I was quite taken aback the rest of them came in to help afterwards but the entire process from knocking the topes
Video examples
How we can improve...
Well, around the same time in residency that this new mother lost her life, I became a mother myself. And even with all of my background and training in the field, I was taken aback by how little attention was paid to delivering high-quality maternal health care. And I thought about what that meant, not just for myself
Video examples
Travelers of the Year PIPE...
we saw Ethan had standing in front of this massive elephant had both hands placed like this his eyes shut right up close to the elephant on the elephant's forehead um and we were just all sort of taken aback I thought this thing could crush but he felt such a connection with that elephant and was so at peace and I
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 210 PIPE...
she stood up to Tandy and she really did fight for her her life so to speak and she was incredibly good at defending ourselves she really did defend herself very well and I was surprised I mean in fact she got a few blows to Tandy Tandy ended up with a few claw marks on her face I think tiny was taken aback
Video examples
What if a single human...
she was malnourished, she had never gone to school and she had spent most of her life confined to this small, dark room. When we left, I asked the social worker what the case plan was, and she said, "Well first, we have to get her a birth certificate." I was a little taken aback.
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
But when you look at them, they're not motivated by what they read in their holy book. It's their brutality that makes them read these things into the scripture. Recently, a prominent imam told me a story that really took me aback. He said that a girl came to him
Video examples
Love, no matter what PIPE...
to write a piece about Deaf culture. And I was rather taken aback. I had thought of deafness entirely as an those poor people, they couldn't hear, they lacked hearing, and what could we do for them? And then I went out into the Deaf world. I went to Deaf clubs.
Video examples
David Letterman Goes to...
the world so we've got to have an energy system that provides to the people and for the economy we got here in the old part of town and they've looked around and he was a little taken aback by the electricity wires or tangled up honest to god what
Video examples
"Stumbling towards...
so our fear receptors often will be going off in advance of any of our cognitive usage around verbal and words and cues of language. So as we see these fear moments, we of course are taken aback.
Video examples
The myth of bringing...
I should try to be more agreeable to help give others a win. If I did have feedback, she advised that I send it over email instead. Honestly, I was taken aback.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 42 PIPE...
took down a topi a fully grown adult topi I was quite taken aback the rest of them came in to help afterwards but the entire process from knocking the topes
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Eliezer Yudkowsky
American Writer
If our extinction proceeds slowly enough to allow a moment of horrified realization, the doers of the deed will likely be quite taken aback on realizing that they have actually destroyed the world. Therefore I suggest that if the Earth is destroyed, it will probably be by mistake.
Quote examples
Mila Kunis
American Actress
People have interpretations of what you're supposed to be like. If you're unattractive and overweight, you must have a great personality. If you're attractive, then you must not be the nicest person. People are always taken aback that I'm easygoing but not necessarily stupid.
Quote examples
Tyler Henry
American Entertainer
If you are going to go to a medium, go to a medium as a skeptic... and this is a medium telling you this! Because if someone is a medium and they are legit, they're not going to be shocked by skepticism, they're not going to be taken aback or intimidated by skepticism.
Quote examples
David Baddiel
English Comedian
I tend to feed the trolls because it gives me material for my work. I'm sometimes taken aback by the racist and antisemitic abuse I get, but most of the time I'll get angry for a second, and then remind myself, 'This is material.' The trick is not to be too reactive.
Quote examples
Riya Sen
Indian Actress
On the sets, Bharathirajaa would treat me like an adult even though I was just 16. One day, he slapped me. I was taken aback. I cried and went back to school. Then, he called me and said, 'You are like my daughter. Come back.
Quote examples
Sean Baker
American Director
Somebody who doesn't understand my directing style could be pretty taken aback by it if I start going off the schedule and focusing on something because I'm inspired in the moment.
Quote examples
Summer Altice
American Model
People are taken aback by a confident, pretty girl who knows what she wants in life and isn't going to let anyone get in her way. And you know what it's all about? Jealousy.
Quote examples
Sam Smith
English Musician
I've listened to female vocalists my whole life. That's what I love. I still listen to guys' vocals and don't get taken aback a lot.
Quote examples
Amber Rudd
British Politician
Haven't we all been taken aback when an illness suddenly causes the voice to crack and sometimes dry up completely?
Quote examples
Alvaro Morata
Spanish Athlete
When a player hears the word 'psychologist' at the first, you are taken aback, but I realised that I needed help.
Quote examples
Eliezer Yudkowsky
American Writer
If our extinction proceeds slowly enough to allow a moment of horrified realization, the doers of the deed will likely be quite taken aback on realizing that they have actually destroyed the world. Therefore I suggest that if the Earth is destroyed, it will probably be by mistake.
Quote examples
Mila Kunis
American Actress
People have interpretations of what you're supposed to be like. If you're unattractive and overweight, you must have a great personality. If you're attractive, then you must not be the nicest person. People are always taken aback that I'm easygoing but not necessarily stupid.
Quote examples
Tyler Henry
American Entertainer
If you are going to go to a medium, go to a medium as a skeptic... and this is a medium telling you this! Because if someone is a medium and they are legit, they're not going to be shocked by skepticism, they're not going to be taken aback or intimidated by skepticism.
Quote examples
David Baddiel
English Comedian
I tend to feed the trolls because it gives me material for my work. I'm sometimes taken aback by the racist and antisemitic abuse I get, but most of the time I'll get angry for a second, and then remind myself, 'This is material.' The trick is not to be too reactive.
Quote examples
Riya Sen
Indian Actress
On the sets, Bharathirajaa would treat me like an adult even though I was just 16. One day, he slapped me. I was taken aback. I cried and went back to school. Then, he called me and said, 'You are like my daughter. Come back.
Quote examples
Sean Baker
American Director
Somebody who doesn't understand my directing style could be pretty taken aback by it if I start going off the schedule and focusing on something because I'm inspired in the moment.
Quote examples
Summer Altice
American Model
People are taken aback by a confident, pretty girl who knows what she wants in life and isn't going to let anyone get in her way. And you know what it's all about? Jealousy.
Quote examples
Sam Smith
English Musician
I've listened to female vocalists my whole life. That's what I love. I still listen to guys' vocals and don't get taken aback a lot.
Quote examples
Amber Rudd
British Politician
Haven't we all been taken aback when an illness suddenly causes the voice to crack and sometimes dry up completely?
Quote examples
Alvaro Morata
Spanish Athlete
When a player hears the word 'psychologist' at the first, you are taken aback, but I realised that I needed help.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension