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

Adjective

• bearish
• defeatist
• despairing
• hopeless
• pessimistic

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

Shot in black-and-white and filled with images influenced by classic Westerns, The Last Picture Show pays homage to Bogdanovich’s influences but has a restless, New Hollywood energy and downbeat tone, all its own. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2024

Powell also made a point of acknowledging downbeat readings of consumer sentiment. —David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

Adjective

Way back in 2016 — before its chaotically downbeat social surrealism became the real world's status quo — the FX comedy Atlanta began with a more or less straightforward concept. —EW.com, 10 June 2024

For a book that begins discussing the glorious technological advances that the twentieth century delivered, Slouching Towards Utopia has a particularly downbeat view of the future. —Liaquat Ahamed, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1766, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1950, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

downbeat

noun

down·​beat

ˈdau̇n-ˌbēt

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