downbeat

1 of 2

noun

down·​beat ˈdau̇n-ˌbēt 

1

: the downward stroke of a conductor indicating the principally accented note of a measure of music

also : the first beat of a measure

2

: a decline in activity or prosperity

downbeat

2 of 2

adjective

: pessimistic, gloomy

a downbeat assessment

Synonyms of downbeat

Adjective

• hopeless
• cynical
• pessimistic
• bleak
• despairing
• negative
• depressing

Examples of downbeat in a Sentence

Adjective

a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As has been the norm this summer, seasonal storms kept attendees guessing about whether the July 4 tradition would go forward until downbeat. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026

Nothing feels snapped to an arbitrary grid; while the tempo doesn’t vary from bar to bar, what happens in between the downbeats flows as only human playing can. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 4 June 2026

Adjective

Healthcare is a cyclical sector that's bucking the broader downbeat market and benefiting from the shift away from high-flying tech. — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 7 July 2026

But consumers are still significantly more downbeat on the economy compared to before the war started. — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for downbeat

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

Kids Definition

downbeat

noun

down·​beat

ˈdau̇n-ˌbēt

: the downward stroke of a conductor indicating the principally accented note of a measure of music