downbeat

play

noun down·beat \ ˈdau̇n-ˌbēt \

Definition of downbeat

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

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Recent Examples of downbeat from the Web

The drums take Bonham-doffing downbeats and turnarounds without remorse, across the huge six-and-a-half-minute song.

— anna tingley, Billboard, "Queens of the Stone Age Debut New 'Villains' Single 'The Evil Has Landed': Listen," 10 Aug. 2017
In a video posted by the Kensington Palace Twitter account, Princess Kate can be seen giving strong downbeats for the world-famous opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

— yvonne juris, PEOPLE.com, "Kate, the Conductor! Watch the Royal Lead the Hamburg Philharmonic as the European Tour Comes to a Close," 21 July 2017
Saturday mornings will feature No Soul Train—a dance show that highlights white people’s blatant disregard for downbeats.

— michael harriot, The Root, "Cops Release Bodycam Footage of White Privilege Gone Wild After Woman Claims Sexual Assault," 17 July 2017
Some Ewe rhythms have a slippery, collapsing quality, an amorphous relationship to any easily recognizable downbeat.

— finn cohen, New York Times, "A Servant of Rhythm From Ghana, in Texas," 21 Apr. 2017
From the concert’s opening downbeat, Sorrell was a very engaging conductor, gracefully offering clear direction yet eschewing a rigid allegiance to structure in favor of a free and passionate feel.

— rob hubbard, Twin Cities, "Classical-music review: Sorrell, SPCO have a baroque blast together," 7 Apr. 2017
Later, ethereal notes in the chorus are punctuated by firm string downbeats, like exhalations, that build to loud grandeur, then immediately recede, before a swirling, swinging climax driven on by an undercurrent of ba-bum heartbeat rhythm.

— zachary woolfe, New York Times, "Review: Philharmonic Goes Dada With Esa-Pekka Salonen’s ‘Karawane’," 18 Mar. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'downbeat.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of downbeat

1869

downbeat

adjective

Definition of downbeat

:pessimistic, gloomy

a downbeat assessment

See downbeat defined for English-language learners

Examples of downbeat in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of downbeat from the Web

Wall Street got off to a downbeat start early Thursday as tensions between the U.S. and North Korea continued to escalate, rattling markets overseas.

— alex veiga, Philly.com, "Stocks fall for third day as U.S., N. Korea tensions rattle markets," 11 Aug. 2017
Rumours that Conte is unhappy with the club's strategy in the transfer market have refused to die down, and the Italian's downbeat manner after Chelsea's Community Shield loss to Arsenal simply added fuel to the fire.

— SI.com, "Chelsea Board Promises Reinforcements to Antonio Conte and Targets Defensive Pair," 7 Aug. 2017
The very idea of a downbeat or upbeat seems to vanish in this unfolding, along with the half bar that doesn’t add up.

— jeremy denk, New York Times, "The Pianist Jeremy Denk on the Joys of Chopin, Our Most Catlike Composer," 4 Aug. 2017
Other companies that did well included Fiat Chrysler, AB Inbev and Southwest Airlines, while Deutsche Bank, Nokia and Nestle were more downbeat.

— elaine kurtenbach, The Seattle Times, "World stocks mixed amid raft of corporate earnings," 27 July 2017
Indeed, Chloe was right on the edge of the stage from the downbeat, singing along with the songs and enjoying the show.

— steve watkins, star-telegram, "Transistor Tramps amp up the crowd with reunion at Lola’s," 18 July 2017
The downbeat assessments came with Republican leaders aiming toward a climactic Senate vote next week on their wounded legislation erasing much of President Barack Obama’s health care law.

— erica werner, The Seattle Times, "Longtime GOP senator pessimistic about health bill prospects," 11 July 2017
No one outside the festival circuit has either the inclination or the constitution to watch them all, while the options can look indistinguishably downbeat even to the conscientious.

— guy lodge, chicagotribune.com, "'Last Men in Aleppo' review: 'Last Men in Aleppo' review: Messy, harrowing account of living through war," 22 June 2017
The movie is less satisfying when conveying the more downbeat material, showing an unappealing streak of self-righteousness.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "'Book of Henry' movie review: Uneven family portrait undone by melodrama," 15 June 2017

First Known Use of downbeat

1950

downbeat Synonyms

Synonyms

bearish, defeatist, despairing, pessimistic, hopeless

Antonyms

hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish (also Polyannish), rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

Related Words

cynical, fatalistic, nihilist, nihilistic; desperate, discouraging, disheartening, inauspicious, unlikely, unpromising; bleak, cheerless, comfortless, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gloomy, morose, saturnine, sepulchral, somber (or sombre), sullen; grim; contrary, hostile, negative

Near Antonyms

auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, promising, propitious; cheering, comforting, reassuring; favorable, good, positive; idealist, romantic, utopian, visionary; cheerful, cheery, chipper, sunny

DOWNBEAT Defined for English Language Learners

downbeat

play

noun

Definition of downbeat for English Language Learners

: the downward movement that a conductor makes to show which note is played with the greatest stress or force
: the first beat of a measure of music

downbeat

adjective

Definition of downbeat for English Language Learners

: sad or depressing : not happy or hopeful

DOWNBEAT Defined for Kids

downbeat

play

noun down·beat \ ˈdau̇n-ˌbēt \

Definition of downbeat for Students

:the first beat of a measure of music

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downbeat

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DOWNBEAT Defined for English Language Learners

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