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aback

Adverb

UK: /əˈbæk/

US: /əˈbæk/


▶️Surprised or Taken by Surprise: This is the most common usage. When someone is "taken aback," they are surprised or startled by something unexpected.

  • Example: She was taken aback by the unexpected news.
Explanation: In this sentence, "taken aback" means she was surprised by the news and was momentarily unsure of how to react.

  • Example: The team was aback by the unexpected turn of events in the final minutes of the game.
Explanation: Here, "aback" indicates that the team was surprised or shocked by the sudden change during the game.


▶️Physical Position (Less Common): In nautical or old-fashioned contexts, "aback" can describe a situation where the sails of a boat are pushed backward by the wind, causing the boat to move backward or stop.

  • Example: The ship was caught aback by the sudden shift in the wind.
Explanation: In this nautical context, "caught aback" means that the sails were pushed backward by the sudden change in the wind, affecting the boat’s movement.
  • Example: The old ship was left aback by the sudden gusts of wind, causing it to drift off course.
Explanation: This sentence uses "aback" to describe how the ship’s sails were pushed backward by the gusts of wind.

Here’s a detailed look at how to use "aback" in sentences:

When Describing a Reaction to Surprise:

☑️Example: I was taken aback by the sudden change in the schedule.

  • Subject: "I"
  • Predicate: "was taken aback by the sudden change in the schedule"
    • "was" (verb)
    • "taken aback" (phrase meaning surprised)
    • "by" (preposition)
    • "the" (definite article)
    • "sudden" (adjective)
    • "change" (noun)
    • "in the schedule" (prepositional phrase)

☑️Example: She looked aback when she saw the new policy announcement.

  • Subject: "She"
  • Predicate: "looked aback when she saw the new policy announcement"
    • "looked" (verb)
    • "aback" (adverb meaning surprised)
    • "when" (conjunction)
    • "she saw the new policy announcement" (dependent clause)
    • "she" (pronoun)
    • "saw" (verb)
    • "the" (definite article)
    • "new" (adjective)
    • "policy" (noun)
    • "announcement" (noun)

When Describing a Physical Position (Less Common Usage):

☑️Example: The boat was pushed aback by the strong wind.
  • Subject: "The boat"
  • Predicate: "was pushed aback by the strong wind"
    • "was" (verb)
    • "pushed aback" (verb phrase indicating physical movement)
    • "by" (preposition)
    • "the" (definite article)
    • "strong" (adjective)
    • "wind" (noun)

More Example:

☑️Tom was aback when he saw the big, surprise birthday cake his friends had made for him.

Explanation:

  • Subject: Tom
  • Predicate: was aback when he saw the big, surprise birthday cake his friends had made for him
    • "was" (verb)
    • "aback" (adverb meaning surprised)
    • "when he saw the big, surprise birthday cake" (dependent clause explaining the surprise)
    • "when" (conjunction)
    • "he saw" (verb phrase)
    • "the big, surprise birthday cake" (noun phrase describing the cake)
      • "the" (definite article)
      • "big" (adjective)
      • "surprise" (adjective)
      • "birthday cake" (noun)

☑️The manager was taken aback by the unexpected resignation letter from the top-performing employee.

Explanation:

  • Subject: The manager
  • Predicate: was taken aback by the unexpected resignation letter from the top-performing employee
    • "was taken aback" (verb phrase meaning surprised)
    • "by the unexpected resignation letter" (prepositional phrase explaining the cause of surprise)
    • "by" (preposition)
    • "the unexpected resignation letter" (noun phrase describing what caused the surprise)
    • "the" (definite article)
    • "unexpected" (adjective)
    • "resignation letter" (noun phrase)
    • "resignation" (noun)
    • "letter" (noun)
    • "from the top-performing employee" (prepositional phrase specifying the source of the letter)
    • "from" (preposition)
    • "the top-performing employee" (noun phrase)
    • "the" (definite article)
    • "top-performing" (adjective)
    • "employee" (noun)

Synonyms & Similar Words

Surprised Astonished Startled Comfounded Suddenly Unawares off Base Surprisingly Unexpectedly Abruptly Unanticipatedly Amazingly Unaware all of a sudden Astoundingly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slowly sluggishly tardily obviously