From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe taken aback phrasal verbSURPRISEDto be very surprised about something Emma was somewhat taken aback by his directness. → take→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
be taken aback• When he lunged forward, she was taken aback.• The authorities were taken aback, and took the unprecedented step of cordoning off the painting.• The man spun round so swiftly that George was taken aback and tripped, falling on to the soft mud.• I was completely taken aback by his aggressive and unreasonable attitude.• I think he was a little taken aback by my response.• Intel was taken aback by the intensity of public anger.• Shulman was taken aback by the survey results.• Perhaps it was too dark for Miriam to notice how Louise was taken aback by this remark, how she blushed.• Jonadab was taken aback, not being a man given to overt affection.• I was taken aback to find an elderly woman sitting inside the door of the men's room.• She was taken aback to realise just how far her reservations about seeing him had disappeared. 