downbeat

American  

[doun-beet] / ˈdaʊnˌbit /

noun

Music.

1. the downward stroke of a conductor's arm or baton indicating the first or accented beat of a measure.

2. the first beat of a measure.

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adjective

1. gloomy or depressing; pessimistic.

   Hollywood movies seldom have downbeat endings.

downbeat British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌbiːt /

noun

1. music the first beat of a bar or the downward gesture of a conductor's baton indicating this Compare upbeat

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adjective

1. informal depressed; gloomy

2. informal relaxed; unemphatic

Etymology

Origin of downbeat

1875–80; down ¹ + beat (noun)

Example Sentences

A chief culprit is Intel, which slumped after downbeat quarterly results.

From The Wall Street Journal

Where to watch: Peacock Nominated for: Visual effects What we said: “‘Rebirth’ is a confounding title for a downbeat entry that’s mostly preoccupied by death and neglect.”

From Los Angeles Times

Intriguingly for a town that popularized the Hollywood happy ending, many of the movies we most identify with end on a downbeat note, roughly half of them.

From Los Angeles Times

He had looked downbeat when he sidestepped those questions but was more forthcoming when asked on Sunday if he still felt he had confidence from the board.

From Barron's

He had looked downbeat when he sidestepped those questions but was more forthcoming when asked on Sunday if he still felt he had confidence from the board.

From Barron's