aback
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tom Griffin, whose 15-year-old son was asked to leave, said he was "taken aback" when he saw the sign and that teenagers had been "unfairly targeted".
From BBC • May 15, 2026
Perkins said she had been taken aback by how expensive treatment can be and said she sympathised with those without insurance.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
When it debuted in March 2021, the health-focused Goop Kitchen had so many orders that even Paltrow was taken aback.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Smart said she was a little taken aback when she first learned how things would pan out for aging comic Deborah Vance and her mentee Ava Daniels, played by Hannah Einbinder.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
Desaguliers and a friend later built models of both the Savery and the Newcomen engines: despite his extraordinary expertise, Desaguliers was plainly taken aback to see the Savery engine outperform the Newcomen engine.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Vocabulary lists containing aback
The Diary of Anne Frank
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Just Mercy
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
