having the wind against the forward side of the sails; "the ship came up into the wind with all yards aback"
Used in a Sentence
aback
How to use aback in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for aback.
Editorial note
But even well-informed tech people have been taken aback by the breadth and sheer gall of the NSA's snooping.
Examples3
Definitions2
Parts of speech1
Quick take
having the wind against the forward side of the sails; "the ship came up into the wind with all yards aback"
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of aback gathered in one view.
by surprise; "taken aback by the caustic remarks"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for aback.
adverb
having the wind against the forward side of the sails; "the ship came up into the wind with all yards aback"
adverb
by surprise; "taken aback by the caustic remarks"
Example sentences
But even well-informed tech people have been taken aback by the breadth and sheer gall of the NSA's snooping.
I'm a little taken aback by the parent post's "I was like that, but fixed myself with Linkin Park" attitude.
" The IBM guy, taken aback that a programmer would switch into business mode so quickly, said, "Okay, you get $100K in royalties, after which we own the program.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use aback in a sentence?
But even well-informed tech people have been taken aback by the breadth and sheer gall of the NSA's snooping.
What does aback mean?
having the wind against the forward side of the sails; "the ship came up into the wind with all yards aback"
What part of speech is aback?
aback is commonly used as adverb.