: a steady pronounced rhythm stressing the second and fourth beats of a four-beat measure
Examples of backbeat in a Sentence
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But this year’s celebrations are soundtracked to a jarring backbeat as the country strains under economic pressure, insecurity and the biggest buzzkill of all — a government trying to cash in on the cool.
—
Vanessa Offiong, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Jonathan and Jordan Knight half-rap over an irritating electronic backbeat like wannabe Beastie Boys.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
All these songs rely on a strong backbeat more than harmonies or guitar solos, for example.
—John Lingan, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Tursi further developed the guitar section with a skippy, carefree vibe while dialing up a new wave-era tone and reverb, with drummer Whit Sellers continuing a relentless backbeat.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025
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Vanessa Offiong, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025
Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Jonathan and Jordan Knight half-rap over an irritating electronic backbeat like wannabe Beastie Boys.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Dec. 2025
All these songs rely on a strong backbeat more than harmonies or guitar solos, for example.
—John Lingan, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2025
Tursi further developed the guitar section with a skippy, carefree vibe while dialing up a new wave-era tone and reverb, with drummer Whit Sellers continuing a relentless backbeat.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for backbeat
Cite this Entry
“Backbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backbeat. Accessed 23 Dec. 2025.
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backbeat
noun
back·beat
-ˌbēt 
: a steady pronounced rhythm stressing the second and fourth beats of a four-beat measure
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