Dictionary

take aback en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [ˌtʰæɪ̯.k‿əˈbæk] (Australia)
• /ˌteɪk əˈbæk/ (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌtæɪk əˈbæk/ (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• [ˌtʰeɪ̯.k‿əˈbæk] (Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From take + aback, see the two entries for their respective etymology.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, transitive) To surprise or shock; to discomfit.
   • I was, at first, a little taken aback and astounded at the bulk of the volume; but, I turned out early this morning, and with eager hope and expectation set doggedly to work in search of the promised consolation. 1807, William Cobbett, Cobbett's Political Register, Vol. XI., London: Cox and Baylis, page 121:
   • They haven't seen humans for years, so when a small expedition, led by Jason Clarke, stumbles into apetopia, both sides are taken aback. 2014 July 1, Steve Rose, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: a primate scream - first look review”, in The Guardian:
   • The physiologist is taken aback. 2008, Denis Noble, The Music of Life: Biology beyond genes, page 123:
   • Zervas was rather taken aback to learn that Ares Veloutiotes, the communist leader, was on his way to the village because there was no friendship between them. 2002, Russell Miller, Behind the Lines: The Oral History of Special Operations in World War II, New York: St. Martin's Press, page 178:
   • Frank was taken aback when Lisa told him that she also needed forgiveness from him, for actions, for words, and for unspoken thoughts. 1998, Penelope Fitzgerald, The Beginning of Spring, Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, page 156:
   • Most commentators have been taken aback (but reassured) at how opposition has, if anything, grown rather than faded over time. 2023 August 9, Nigel Harris, “Comment: Disinterested and dishonest”, in RAIL, number 989, page 3:
   • I was rather taken aback by his angry reply.
   • She was not taken aback to find he lived in a ramshackle log hut among the trees. 2000, Tanith Lee, White as Snow, New York: Tom Doherty Associates, page 105:
   • In a way, he was taken aback by the absence of discouragement. 2000, Rupert Thomson, Soft!, page 292:
   • She was a little taken aback to find the front door of heavy oak unlocked. 2001, Anna Gilbert, A Morning in Eden, New York: St. Martin's Press, page 9:
   • The bad news took us aback.
   • I would rather board a hundred of the enemy's frigates, than steer my boat into a fleet of modest women, for a modest woman never fails to take me aback. 1808, The Post-Captain: A View of Naval Society and Manners, 3rd edition, London: Thomas Tegg, page 165:
2. (passive, usually) Of a ship: to catch it with the sails aback suddenly.

Forms

Translations (38)

mi pūawhe (to catch with sails aback) · bg изде́бна (to surprise or shock) · es pasmar (to surprise or shock) · es dejar estupefacto (to surprise or shock) · es sorprender (to surprise or shock) · eo konsterni (to surprise or shock) · sh iznenaditi (to surprise or shock) · es dejar pasmado (to surprise or shock) · cs překvapit (to surprise or shock) · ru ошеломи́ть (to surprise or shock) · bg изнена́дам (to surprise or shock) · ru заста́ть враспло́х (to surprise or shock) · ru захва́тывать враспло́х (to surprise or shock) · bg изнена́двам (to surprise or shock) · bg шашарди́сам (to surprise or shock) · es agarrar en curva (to surprise or shock) · it cogliere di sorpresa (to surprise or shock) · fi joutua vastatuuleen (to catch with sails aback) · ga bain siar as (to surprise or shock) · bg изде́бвам (to surprise or shock) · es asombrar (to surprise or shock) · it prendere alla sprovvista (to surprise or shock) · fi ällistyttää (to surprise or shock) · fi järkyttää (to surprise or shock) · pl zbić z tropu (to surprise or shock) · el ξαφνιάζω (to surprise or shock) · sh osupnuti (to surprise or shock) · ru ошеломля́ть (to surprise or shock) · pt assustar (to surprise or shock) · de überraschen (to surprise or shock) · gd cuir iongnadh air (to surprise or shock) · ht souke (to surprise or shock) · bg шашарди́свам (to surprise or shock) · pt surpreender (to surprise or shock) · sh preneraziti (to surprise or shock) · es desconcertar (to surprise or shock) · es agarrar de sorpresa (to surprise or shock) · sh zapanjiti (to surprise or shock)