Aback is an English word. Below you'll find 10+ example sentences showing how it's used in practice.
Aback in a sentence
Aback meaning
- Towards the back or rear; backwards.
- In the rear; a distance behind.
- By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
Using Aback
- The main meaning on this page is: Towards the back or rear; backwards. | In the rear; a distance behind. | By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
- In the example corpus, aback often appears in combinations such as: taken aback, aback by, aback when.
Context around Aback
- Average sentence length in these examples: 24.6 words
- Position in the sentence: 4 start, 11 middle, 5 end
- Sentence types: 20 statements, 0 questions, 0 exclamations
Corpus analysis for Aback
- In this selection, "aback" usually appears in the middle of the sentence. The average example has 24.6 words, and this corpus slice is mostly made up of statements.
- Around the word, taken, too, executives and tonight stand out and add context to how "aback" is used.
- Recognizable usage signals include always taken aback by startups and appearing taken aback when asked. That gives this page its own corpus information beyond isolated example sentences.
- By corpus frequency, "aback" sits close to words such as acquaintance, allocating and amphibious, which helps place it inside the broader word index.
Example types with aback
The same corpus examples are grouped by length and sentence type, making it easier to see the contexts in which the word appears:
And the budget process really took me aback, too. (9 words)
It genuinely took me aback as I watched it in the cinema. (12 words)
As you enter, you will be taken aback by massive machinery used in the Industrial Revolution. (16 words)
Also in the book, the duke says that Kate reluctantly lent Meghan her lip gloss, was “taken aback” by the request to borrow it and “grimaced” when Meghan squeezed some onto her finger and applied it to her lips. (39 words)
Following the directions, I put the kernels into the machine, set a bowl by the opening to collect the popcorn, and plugged it in. The machine starts up and I'm taken aback by how loud it is. (38 words)
As someone who runs an accelerator program, I’m always taken aback by startups that have been fundraising before they can properly articulate how their product is going to create value and a financial return. (35 words)
Example sentences (20)
According to the lottery corporation, McLean, who played the lottery with a dream of one day retiring on a big win, was taken aback when she discovered her luck.
Also in the book, the duke says that Kate reluctantly lent Meghan her lip gloss, was “taken aback” by the request to borrow it and “grimaced” when Meghan squeezed some onto her finger and applied it to her lips.
Amber Heard's friend Eve Barlow has spoken out on social media, after footage was shared of Brie Larson appearing taken aback when asked about Johnny Depp's presence at the Cannes Film Festival.
And the budget process really took me aback, too.
As Eli introduced Danny DeVito’s “” co-star, both the Manning brothers and viewers were taken aback by the presence of the donkey.
As I excitedly made my way for breakfast for some much needed early morning fuel, I was taken aback by a pleasant surprise in the lift as I spotted a familiar face.
As someone who runs an accelerator program, I’m always taken aback by startups that have been fundraising before they can properly articulate how their product is going to create value and a financial return.
As you enter, you will be taken aback by massive machinery used in the Industrial Revolution.
A tearful Stacey Franks admitted she was 'taken aback' by his death while said she was 'heartbroken', and Aaron Renfree and Jay Perry also paid tribute.
Beijing was taken aback, and in the summer of 1989 Jiang Zemin made “peaceful evolution” one of the key threats to the rule of theCommunist Party.
But she is taken aback when Nicky takes action and proposes to Gabby, who then issues a warning to Kim.
Even Sanada, who just won New Japan's top prize back in April for the first time in his career, seemed taken aback by the booking decision.
Following the directions, I put the kernels into the machine, set a bowl by the opening to collect the popcorn, and plugged it in. The machine starts up and I'm taken aback by how loud it is.
He’s taken aback executives with eye-watering demands for 40% pay increases over the next four years and a 32-hour work week — unheard of in American manufacturing.
He was taken aback by how common it is for working people to be on the brink of homelessness.
However she was rather taken aback as to how the deer they came across had been killed.
I couldn't believe it…I was floored at how generous he was to this nobody, I was taken aback.
It genuinely took me aback as I watched it in the cinema.
I think people have genuinely been taken aback by the speed with which the government’s pushing these huge changes through the Knesset, or Parliament.
ITV Coronation Street viewers were left taken aback tonight when the soap aired a shock return.
Common combinations with aback
These word pairs occur most frequently in English texts:
- taken aback 179×
- aback by 85×
- aback when 23×
- aback as 10×
- aback and 9×
- aback at 7×
- me aback 4×
- aback that 4×
- aback after 4×
- aback but 3×