downbeat

[doun-beet]

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.

adjective

1. gloomy or depressing; pessimistic.

   Hollywood movies seldom have downbeat endings.

downbeat

/ ˈdaʊnˌbiːt /

noun

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

adjective

1. informal,  depressed; gloomy

2. informal,  relaxed; unemphatic

Word History and Origins

Origin of downbeat¹

1875–80; down ¹ + beat (noun)

Example Sentences

However, the company issued a downbeat forecast for the fiscal year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Ms. Griffin balances these journal entries with more downbeat ones, which conveyed the precariousness of these transformed lives.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Economists say there’s cause to be downbeat about the longer term effects of U.S. trade policy on Japanese exports.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Compounding the downbeat mood are concerns that the Federal Reserve will decide against a third-straight interest rate cut next month, as stubborn inflation plays up against a weakening jobs market.

Read more on Barron's

After months of downbeat introspection, three election races this week gave them a much-needed burst of momentum.

Read more on BBC