: an act or instance of reproducing recorded sound or pictures often immediately after recording
played back; playing back; plays back
: 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
Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
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If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
James Taylor, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The Bruins do not play back-to-back games until March 16 and 17 against the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
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Noun
With up to 35 hours of battery life and a quick-charge feature that delivers 60 minutes of playback from just 3 minutes of charging, these headphones ensure the party in your head never stops.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
See who's still in the race for U.S. Senate seat
CBS TEXAS
Search
Watch later
Share
Copy link
Info
Shopping
Tap to unmute
If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
The facility would be on the same spot where the Sacramento Capitals pro tennis team played back in the 1990s and 2000s and would also require demolition of the now-vacant Macy's building.
—James Taylor, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026
The Bruins do not play back-to-back games until March 16 and 17 against the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for playback
Cite this Entry
“Playback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playback. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
playback
1 of 2 noun
play·back
ˈplā-ˌbak 
: 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)
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