feedback
FEED-bak
Feedback (noun) means Comments or reactions about how well something worked, used to guide improvement. Example: “Her manager gave her useful feedback after the presentation.”
noun
1
Comments or reactions about how well something worked, used to guide improvement.
"Her manager gave her useful feedback after the presentation."
"We collect customer feedback through a short survey."
"I'd welcome any feedback on my essay before I hand it in."
2
A high-pitched squeal caused by sound from a speaker looping back into a microphone.
"The guitarist got a burst of feedback when he stood too close to the amp."
"A loud burst of feedback made everyone cover their ears during the speech."
"The sound engineer moved the speaker to stop the feedback from the microphone."
How to use feedback
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither helpful comments on your work, or the electronic squeal from audio equipment.
Common pairings
give feedback
positive feedback
audio feedback
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Word forms
- Plural
- feedbacks
- Third person singular
- feedbacks
- Past tense
- feedbacked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her manager gave her useful _____ after the presentation.
Etymology
A compound of feed + back, originally an engineering term for output looped back into a system's input.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “feedback” mean?
The word “feedback” means comments or reactions about how well something worked, used to guide improvement. In plain terms, either helpful comments on your work, or the electronic squeal from audio equipment.
How do you pronounce “feedback”?
“Feedback” is pronounced FEED-bak (/ˈfiːdˌbæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “feedback” in a sentence?
Here is “feedback” used in a sentence: “Her manager gave her useful feedback after the presentation.”
What part of speech is “feedback”?
“Feedback” is a noun.
Is “feedback” a common word?
“Feedback” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “feedback” have?
“Feedback” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: comments or reactions about how well something worked, used to guide improvement.
What is the difference between "feedback" and "criticism"?
Feedback is information about how well something worked and is meant to guide improvement, so it can be positive or negative. Criticism focuses on pointing out faults, and although constructive criticism overlaps with feedback, "criticism" alone often carries a more negative tone.
Is "feedback" countable or uncountable?
"Feedback" is normally an uncountable noun, so you say "some feedback" or "a piece of feedback" rather than "a feedback" or "feedbacks." To refer to individual points, use a quantifier such as "a lot of feedback" or "several comments."
What words commonly go with "feedback"?
Common collocations include "give feedback," "receive feedback," "provide feedback," "positive feedback," and "negative feedback." In audio contexts, feedback is the high-pitched squeal that occurs when a microphone picks up sound looping back from a nearby speaker.
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