# aback

> English word · Adverb · IPA /əˈbæk/ · frequency rank #29,152

## Definitions
1. Towards the back or rear; backwards.
2. In the rear; a distance behind.
3. By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
4. Backward against the mast; said of the sails when pressed by the wind from the "wrong" (forward) side, or of a ship when its sails are set that way.

## Etymology
From Middle English abak, from Old English onbæc, equivalent to a- (“towards”) + back. Compare West Frisian tebek (“aback”, adverb, literally “to/at back”), Swedish tillbaka (idem.).

## Easily confused with
- **ABC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aback-vs-abc)
- **ACK** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aback-vs-ack)
- **abate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aback-vs-abate)
- **attack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aback-vs-attack)
- **abacus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aback-vs-abacus)
- **aba** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aba-vs-aback)

## Common misspellings (7)
`aabck`, `abacck`, `abackk`, `abakc`, `abback`, `abcak`, `baack`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/aback