take aback

surprise or shock someone, often leaving them unsure how to react

C1

What does "take sb aback" mean?

To be taken aback means to experience a sharp, sudden feeling of surprise or shock — often so strong that you are momentarily lost for words. It captures that specific instant when something unexpected stops you in your tracks, leaving you visibly startled or unable to respond immediately. Unlike being mildly surprised, being taken aback implies a more pronounced jolt — the kind that shows on your face or makes you pause before you can reply. The phrase carries a slightly more formal weight than simply saying 'surprised', which makes it a natural choice in written English, journalism, and professional contexts. It is almost always used in the passive form ('I was taken aback'), though the active form ('his words took me aback') does exist and is perfectly correct.

Examples

How to use it

be taken aback by + noun phrase

This is by far the most common structure — the person who experiences the surprise is the subject, and the cause follows 'by'.

She was taken aback by the bluntness of his reply.

subject + take + object + aback

In active constructions, the object must come between 'take' and 'aback', never after 'aback'.

The announcement took everyone aback at the start of the meeting.

subject + take + pronoun + aback

Pronouns are the most natural objects in the active form and always sit between the verb and the particle.

His sudden change of tone took me aback.

degree adverb + taken aback

Adverbs such as 'completely', 'rather', 'somewhat', 'visibly', and 'a little' are frequently used to show the degree of surprise.

The interviewer was visibly taken aback by her unconventional answer.

be + [adverb] + taken aback + when/that-clause

A subordinate clause introduced by 'when' or 'that' can explain the cause instead of a 'by' phrase.

I was somewhat taken aback when they offered me the position on the spot.

Common Collocations

taken aback by the newstaken aback by his/her responsetaken aback by the questionsomewhat/rather taken abackvisibly taken abacktook me aback

Common Mistakes

Object placed after the particle in active constructions

In the active voice, the object must come between 'take' and 'aback', not after 'aback'. Placing the object at the end sounds unnatural and is incorrect.

✗ The news took aback everyone in the room.
✓ The news took everyone in the room aback. / Everyone in the room was taken aback by the news.
Confusing 'taken aback' with 'put off'

'Taken aback' describes the immediate moment of shock or surprise, whereas 'put off' describes a lasting feeling of reluctance or dislike. They are not interchangeable.

✗ I was taken aback by his arrogance and decided never to work with him again.
✓ I was put off by his arrogance and decided never to work with him again. (Use 'taken aback' only if describing the sharp initial shock, not a lasting attitude.)
Using 'aback' as a standalone adverb

'Aback' has no independent meaning in modern English and cannot be used outside the fixed phrase 'take aback'. It should never appear on its own.

✗ She stepped aback in surprise.
✓ She was taken aback. / She stepped back in surprise.

Usage

This phrasal verb is almost always used in the passive: 'I was taken aback.' It sounds slightly more formal than 'surprised', making it a good choice in written English or professional contexts. It is neutral and widely used in both British and American English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'taken aback' mainly used in the passive? Can I use the active form?

Yes — the passive form ('be taken aback') is by far the most common and natural way to use this phrase, and it is what most speakers will expect to hear or read. The active form ('his words took me aback') is grammatically correct and does appear in natural English, but it is noticeably less frequent. When in doubt, use the passive.

Can I say 'I am being taken aback' or 'this will take you aback'?

These forms sound awkward and are best avoided. The present continuous passive ('being taken aback') feels unnatural in almost all contexts, and the future simple ('will take aback') is rarely used and can sound stilted. Stick to the simple past passive ('was taken aback'), the present perfect passive ('have been taken aback'), or the simple past active ('took me aback').

Is 'taken aback' more formal than 'surprised'?

Slightly, yes. 'Taken aback' carries a marginally more formal feel than 'surprised', which makes it a particularly good choice in professional emails, reports, or written contexts. That said, it is not restricted to formal use — it is perfectly natural in everyday conversation too, and is used widely in both British and American English.

Does 'taken aback' always describe a negative reaction?

Not necessarily. While it is often used in situations involving an unwelcome surprise — such as a rude comment or unexpected bad news — it can also describe being shocked by something positive or simply unexpected. The key element is the sharpness and immediacy of the surprise, not whether it is good or bad.

What kinds of things typically 'take someone aback'?

The most natural triggers are things that are blunt, unexpected, or out of character — such as a surprising question, an abrupt announcement, a candid remark, or an unusual reaction from someone. Concrete phrases like 'taken aback by the news', 'taken aback by his bluntness', and 'taken aback by the suggestion' are all very common and natural.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →