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aback
Definitions, pronunciation, related words, and community validation from players who tested this word in Spelling Bee.
5 LETTERS5 POINTS[əˈbæk]
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When aback helps
Base Score
5
Before any board-specific bonus
Unique Letters
4
A B C K
Two-Letter Start
AB
Useful for systematic scans
Ending
CK
Check this pattern late
- 5 letters
- 4 unique letters
- AB start
- CK ending
- repeated letters
Try it when
- aback is worth 5 points before any pangram bonus.
- It uses 4 unique letters, so it can fit boards that include a, b, c, k plus any remaining hive letters.
- Watch the repeated-letter pattern (A x2); those are easy points to miss when scanning quickly.
- The CK ending makes this a useful pattern check after you try the AB start.
- BuzzyWords has saved this word in 1 published Daily snapshot.
Pronunciation
[əˈbæk][əˈbæk]
adverb
Towards the back or rear; backwards.
adverb
In the rear; a distance behind.
adverb
By surprise; startled; dumbfounded. (see usage)
adverb
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.
noun
An abacus.