How to Use take aback in a Sentence

take aback

phrasal verb
  • Even so, he was taken aback by an outline of Cyrus’s case.
    — Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024
  • We were taken aback by the lie, and perhaps Carol was, too.
    — Charlie Mason, TVLine, 30 Sep. 2024
  • Any’s brother and his wife seem taken aback, while her aunt’s mouth sits agape.
    — Abigail Adams, People.com, 30 May 2025
  • Reached for comment on the phone later, La Doña was taken aback.
    — Danny Acosta, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2023
  • But talking to people that are my own age, even like 20, I was taken aback by it.
    — Vulture, 14 July 2023
  • Many commenters were taken aback by the bathing schedule.
    — Anna Halkidis, Parents, 12 Feb. 2024
  • And after the bomb was dropped, she was really taken aback by the scale of the destruction.
    — Erica Huang, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2023
  • Scherzinger herself was taken aback when Lloyd asked to meet and suggested the part some 18 months ago.
    — Roslyn Sulcas, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2023
  • Jason and Travis were both taken aback by their dad's blunt response.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
  • As soon as someone seems too taken aback by my not drinking, they are ruled out.
    — Brianna Heath, Essence, 16 June 2025
  • Howe, taken aback and upset at the $40 charge, decides against paying it.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2023
  • Mariah was taken aback and denied skipping out on the date.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 4 June 2025
  • Even the Kremlin, somewhat taken aback by the speed of events, has publicly taken note.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Those close to the family were taken aback by the announcement.
    — Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 19 Feb. 2024
  • Jane, who was taken aback by the encounter, proceeded to walk down the steps to help John gather his things and clean up the coffee.
    — Terina Allen, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • That’s why one day, when addressing the inside guys, Likens was taken aback when Rice raised his hand.
    — Jesse Newell, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024
  • The three-time gold medalist was seemingly taken aback by the rapper’s largesse.
    — Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 7 May 2024
  • The head of a tax watchdog group also said she was taken aback by what Steiner put forward.
    — Rob Davis, ProPublica, 2 Feb. 2024
  • Sheila Foley, went to follow up at the Perez home, where both seemed taken aback by the state of the house, according to footage from body cameras.
    — Rachel Clarke, CNN, 6 Sep. 2024
  • Were you taken aback by any of the emotions that experience brought up?
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • Of course, that's expected, but we're still taken aback at how aggressive the aero looks on the Honda.
    — Jack Fitzgerald, Car and Driver, 24 July 2023
  • Yang, 34, didn’t seem too taken aback by his co-host’s confession.
    — Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The actor wasn’t aware of that fact before taking on the role, but he’s not entirely taken aback by the factoid.
    — Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 30 Apr. 2025
  • But even she has been taken aback by the flurry of labor reforms snaking through Congress.
    — Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2023
  • Visibly taken aback, Vernikov cursed as the man walked off, laughing.
    — Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 22 Aug. 2023
  • Iris is rightfully taken aback, and in her anger decides not to release Isaac.
    — Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
  • As the Cessna 180 circled for a landing, I was taken aback by how easily it was tossed around.
    — Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2024
  • Looking at these pictures today, I’m still taken aback by it all.
    — Paul McCartney, The Atlantic, 13 June 2023
  • John Myers, one of the Democratic canvassers, said he was taken aback.
    — Madeleine May, CBS News, 20 May 2024
  • He was somewhat taken aback by Jamie Kennedy and Lillard's broad performances on the first day of shooting.
    — Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Some of 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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