playback

1 of 2

noun

play·​back ˈplā-ˌbak How to pronounce playback (audio)
: an act or instance of reproducing recorded sound or pictures often immediately after recording

play back

2 of 2

verb

played back; playing back; plays back

transitive verb

: to perform a playback of (a usually recently recorded disc or tape)

Examples of playback in a Sentence

Noun The band listened to a playback of their first recording.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Additionally, depth and water temperature sensors, audio playback capabilities, and voice isolation for clearer calls have all been upgraded. Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 23 Oct. 2024 YouTube is getting a bunch of small but handy new features, like the ability to more finely tune your playback speed, new tools to collaborate on playlists, a sleep timer, and more. Jay Peters, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2024
Verb
Musicians, podcasters, and other audio content creators may want to turn up the volume when playing back Qualcomm’s stream of the keynote: Microsoft will soon ship a series of driver and software updates that should ease connecting instruments to PCs. Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 22 Oct. 2024 However, moving the mute button to the left makes way for a new loop button: Currently, videos automatically repeat forever when played back in Google Photos. Paul Monckton, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for playback 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1929, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of playback was in 1929

Dictionary Entries Near playback

Cite this Entry

“Playback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playback. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

playback

1 of 2 noun
play·​back ˈplā-ˌbak How to pronounce playback (audio)
: the action of reproducing recorded sound or pictures often immediately after recording

play back

2 of 2 verb
(ˈ)plā-ˈbak
: to perform a playback of (a disc or tape)

More from Merriam-Webster on playback

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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