To surprise or shock someone, leaving them momentarily unable to respond
Surprise someone so much that they don't know what to say or do for a moment
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
To surprise or shock someone, especially so that they are temporarily unable to respond
"She was completely taken aback by his sudden resignation — no one had seen it coming."
I was taken aback by the ferocity of the criticism.
— Tony Blair, A Journey: My Political Life, 2010
(Nautical) A sail pushed backward by an unexpected wind — the ship is momentarily stopped and unable to maneuver.
Surprise someone so much that they don't know what to say or do for a moment
Almost always used in the passive: 'I was taken aback.' The active form ('it took me aback') is less common but correct. The surprise is usually unpleasant or at least unexpected. Derived from nautical language: a sail 'taken aback' was caught by the wind from the wrong direction.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "take aback" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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