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

The McCoys are the kind of people who look you in the eye and give you their full attention, and Patricia’s British accent carries an upbeat, birdsong tone. —Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026

Hosted by Memorial Park Conservancy at the Clay Family Eastern Glades, the event features an upbeat, interactive program with live performances by Houston Groove Society and Drumz of Uhuru, blending music and dance rooted in African diasporic traditions. —Ana Khan, Houston Chronicle, 29 Jan. 2026

Adjective

The report outlines a more upbeat scenario, where debt rises more slowly than in the CBO’s forecast. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 20 Feb. 2026

The stock is off nearly 13% in 2026, but Wall Street remains upbeat on the name, with consensus price targets suggesting 25% upside from current levels, per LSEG. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 20 Feb. 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