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Definitions

taken aback









ADJECTIVE
surprised
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She says she was "completely taken aback" when she was told women who are part of a couple can get three rounds of IVF on the NHS but single women are not entitled to any.

From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026

After the destruction of the Verona fire, Teller was taken aback by the support from neighbors and even his competition in the beekeeping business.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

"Don't put me in the same category as those two!" says Jay Lovell, taken aback as his name is mentioned in the same breath as Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

When it debuted in March 2021, the health-focused Goop Kitchen had so many orders that even Paltrow was taken aback.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

“The smallest charms can be the most effective,” Isobel says, taken aback when her voice catches, almost on the brink of tears.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern




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