[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/aback/)

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# aback

adjective (taken aback)

«aback» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

To be taken aback means to be surprised or shocked by something unexpected, so that you are thrown off balance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aback/#m1)

### In the lessons

how characters react to a sudden surprise or harsh words; a bird or child who is startled but not hurt

### Examples

- I was taken aback when Sam shouted my name. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aback/#x1)
- She was taken aback by the news. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aback/#x2)
- The little bird was taken aback by the sharp words. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aback/#x3)
- Dad was taken aback at how late it was. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aback/#x4)

### Note

nothing for maths

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «aback» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/aback/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«aback» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/aback.html) on Mova free.