upbeat

[ uhp-beet ]

noun

, Music.

1. an unaccented beat, especially immediately preceding a downbeat.
2. the upward stroke with which a conductor indicates such a beat.

adjective

1. optimistic; happy; cheerful:

   television dramas with predictably upbeat endings.

upbeat

/ ˈʌpˌbiːt /

noun

1. music
   1. a usually unaccented beat, esp the last in a bar
   2. the upward gesture of a conductor's baton indicating this Compare downbeat
2. an upward trend (in prosperity, etc)

adjective

1. informal.
   marked by cheerfulness or optimism

Word History and Origins

Origin of upbeat¹

1865–70; 1950–55 upbeat fordef 3; up- + beat

Example Sentences

On Clorox’s most recent quarterly investor conference call in August, incoming CEO Linda Rendle and her C-suite colleagues had mostly upbeat news to share.

From Fortune

Murph has a simultaneously upbeat and realistic view of our work-from-home experiment.

From Fortune

Get your head rightWhile they might not keep you alive in the same ways as shelter and water, an upbeat positive attitude and a generous streak of mental toughness can be literal lifesavers under the dire circumstances of a survival situation.

From Popular-Science

They all provided upbeat-to-enthusiastic testimonials, with one characterizing it as a “game-changer.”

From Search Engine Land

I’m not a restaurant critic to be sure, but the food was fresh and fantastic, served by an upbeat and energetic staff.

From Washington Blade

And despite the good scholarship the authors have managed to retain the buoyancy and upbeat air attendant on most comics.

From The Daily Beast

Walking around Freetown as he speaks to me on the phone, the typically upbeat Pratt sounds frustrated.

From The Daily Beast

The simultaneously upbeat and sentimental ode to friendship is equal parts funk, trance, pop, and R&B.

From The Daily Beast

He is determined to fulfill his mission of Christian charity, it appears, and he remains resolutely upbeat.

From The Daily Beast

If anything, they suggest that Funke was feeling upbeat, rather than beaten down by her critics.

From The Daily Beast

Related Words

• buoyant
• cheery
• encouraging
• happy
• hopeful
• optimistic
• positive
• rosy
• sanguine