To be shocked or surprised by something or somebody.
Take aback, to surprise or shock, to discomfit.
Synonyms
abash
agape
aghast
amazed
appalled
astonished
astounded
awed
awestruck
baffled
bemused
bewildered
boggle
confound
dazzle
disconcert
discombobulate
discomfit
discompose
dismay
dumbfounded
dumbstruck
flabbergasted
flat-footed
gobsmacked
goggle-eyed
nonplussed
open-eyed
open-mouthed
overwhelm
perplexed
round-eyed
shock
slack-jawed
speechless
staggered
startled
stunned
stupefied
surprised
thunderstruck
wonder
Idioms
- have palpitations
- taken unawares
- not believe your luck
- not believe your eyes
- not know what hit you
- take away one’s breath
- as though you’ve seen a ghost
- be like a rabbit caught in the headlights
- almost have a heart attack
- not believe your ears
- thrown off guard
- all of a sudden
- thrown for a loss
- horror of horrors
- your eyes pop out of your head
- leap out of your skin
- strike with wonder
- eyes out on stalks
- be struck dumb
Sentence Examples
Taken aback by this outburst, Damian quickly retreated to rejoin Simon.
Well, as you can probably guess, I was taken aback by her appearance.
For a moment he watched, taken aback, then rose stiffly from the park bench and disappeared into the shadows of Pennsylvania Avenue.