Take someone aback meaning
Take someone aback is a phrasal verb that means to shock or surprise someone so strongly that they are briefly unable to respond.
- Past simple
- took someone aback
- Past participle
- taken someone aback
- -ing form
- taking someone aback
What take someone aback means
B2
To shock or surprise someone so strongly that they are briefly unable to respond
I was taken aback by his sudden resignation.
Similar phrasal verbs
With take: take off, take out, take back, take up, take away, take on, take down, take over, take after, take against.
Common questions
What does take someone aback mean?
To shock or surprise someone so strongly that they are briefly unable to respond.
What is the past tense of take someone aback?
Took someone aback. The past participle is taken someone aback.
Meanings and examples are written by Retite. The meanings follow Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0). Levels are based on the CEFR-J Wordlist and set by Retite.
