talk-back
noun
a communications system enabling those in the studio to hear control-room personnel through a loudspeaker or headphones.
talk-back
American
[tawk-bak]
/ ˈtɔkˌbæk /
noun
Radio and Television.
talk back
British
verb
-
to answer boldly or impudently
-
to conduct a telephone dialogue for immediate transmission over the air
noun
-
television radio a system of telephone links enabling spoken directions to be given during the production of a programme
-
-
a broadcast telephone dialogue
-
( as modifier )
a talkback show
-
talk back
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of talk-back
Noun use of verb phrase talk back
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Early in her career, after a performance of Wilson’s “Seven Guitars” — “absolutely an Everyman tragedy story,” Davis said — she and the rest of her cast, all Black, hosted a talk-back.
From New York Times ● Apr. 12, 2022
The theater that had hosted the talk-back sent out a new email beginning “I am happy to report that the attendee who came into contact with COVID-19 has tested NEGATIVE. This is wonderful news.”
From Slate ● May 8, 2020
“As soon as the ball dropped, I said to Lance on the talk-back switch, ‘I’m not saying anything for a long time.’
From Golf Digest ● Apr. 22, 2019
Radio hosts had invited audience questions and comments in the past, but there was something novel about the freewheeling nature of the talk-back format, and Mazer’s show quickly caught on.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 17, 2018
During a post-performance talk-back Thursday night, Mai said watching “Thumbprint” was uncomfortable because “it was so real.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2017
"He was just so domineering and you just couldn't talk back to him," she added.
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026
She isn’t afraid to speak up or talk back — a little too unafraid to believe at times, but she does cut a heroic figure.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2025
All the talk back then was whether the Preds would unload star goalie Juuse Saros at the trade deadline.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 16, 2024
The elephants were also quicker to talk back when the recordings were of others calling their names, as opposed to when researchers played recordings of non-name elephant chatter.
From Salon ● Nov. 17, 2023
Although the staff explained that they couldn't talk back to her, she was welcome to talk.
From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
