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
: pessimistic, gloomy
a downbeat assessment
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
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The film’s downbeat ending shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with Denis’ movies, which have always leaned toward tragedy, especially when the action has been set in Africa.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
In 1965 Viking published, to little notice or acclaim or sales, the novel Stoner by John Williams, a downbeat story of a quiet English professor in Missouri who encounters a succession of disappointments in his life and career.
—Paul Slovak
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
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Noun
Where is the bar line, where is the downbeat?
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The film’s downbeat ending shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with Denis’ movies, which have always leaned toward tragedy, especially when the action has been set in Africa.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
American consumers are downbeat about the economy, according to preliminary results of a monthly survey conducted by the University of Michigan.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
In 1965 Viking published, to little notice or acclaim or sales, the novel Stoner by John Williams, a downbeat story of a quiet English professor in Missouri who encounters a succession of disappointments in his life and career.
—Paul Slovak
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downbeat. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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