Meaning & use
taken aback
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Meaning
phraseafter a verb
Surprised or shocked by something unexpected, often so much that you cannot respond at first.
Grammar: Follows be or feel and usually adds by or at: she was taken aback by the rude reply.
Patterns
- be taken aback by something
- be taken aback at something
- be taken aback to hear that
I was taken aback by how rude the waiter was.
She looked taken aback when they offered her the job.
He was taken aback to find the door already open.
Common combinations
- completely taken aback
- The manager was completely taken aback by the resignation.
- look taken aback
- He looked taken aback when she laughed.
- be taken aback by
- We were taken aback by the price.
- slightly taken aback
- She was slightly taken aback at his tone.
- be taken aback at
- I was taken aback at her honesty.
Synonyms and how they differ
- astonished
- Astonished is a stronger, more positive-or-neutral surprise, while taken aback often suggests an uncomfortable jolt.
- startled
- Startled is a quick physical reaction, whereas taken aback is more about being briefly lost for words.
- shocked
- Shocked is stronger and may carry offense, but taken aback is milder and more polite.
- surprised
- Surprised is the general word and can be pleasant, whereas taken aback usually feels slightly unsettling.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: taken aback or taken back?
taken aback vs taken back
Taken back means returned or brought to the past, as in this song takes me back, which is different from being surprised.
Practice
I was ___ by how quickly she agreed to the plan.
Choose one answer.
Taken aback means surprised. Taken after, taken up and taken apart are other phrasal verbs with different meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “taken aback”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.