aback

//əˈbæk//
C1Frequency Level 12Formal
Visual representation of aback

Adverb

1

By surprise; suddenly startled or disconcerted, typically used in the phrase 'taken aback'.

I was taken aback by her sudden announcement.

2

(Nautical) With sails pressed backward against the mast by a headwind.

The sudden wind shift caught the sails aback.

aback - Deep Vocabulary