upbeat

1 of 2

noun

up·​beat ˈəp-ˌbēt 

1

: an unaccented beat or portion of a beat in a musical measure

specifically : the last beat of the measure

2

: an increase in activity or prosperity

business that is on the upbeat

upbeat

2 of 2

adjective

: cheerful, optimistic

I'm feeling upbeat today

Synonyms of upbeat

Adjective

• cheerful
• optimistic
• bright

Examples of upbeat in a Sentence

Adjective

I like a story with an upbeat ending.

I tried to stay upbeat about losing the election.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her character Kathy was an upbeat, wheelchair-using child who helped Arnold, played by Coleman, accept his five-foot-tall status over the course of four episodes from seasons three through 6. —Theresa Braine, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025

Ramona High girls’ soccer coach Daniel Delgado is not only uber upbeat, but a 2008 Bulldog graduate who is an on-campus physical education teacher, and has some very good early-season numbers to go with it. —Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Bank of America is similarly upbeat about economic growth in 2026. —Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 6 Jan. 2026

First is that the upbeat thesis is fully rational and plausible. —Michael Santoli, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1947, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upbeat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

upbeat

1 of 2 noun

up·​beat ˈəp-ˌbēt 

: an unaccented beat in a musical measure

especially : the last beat of the measure

upbeat

2 of 2 adjective

: optimistic, cheerful

an upbeat story