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

Downbeat sales projections from Advanced Micro Devices compounded the darker mood.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Downbeat feelings about the economy affecting consumer behavior is just about the most normal thing that has ever happened.

From Slate • Jul. 20, 2025

“No country has given the world such great music,” Bennett said in a 2015 interview with Downbeat Magazine.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 21, 2023

At night, he and his friends would hit Central and absorb jump-blues and bop at spots such as Downbeat, the Gayety Jungle Room and an upstairs club called Lovejoy’s.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2022

Then 30 years old, he had been making good side money shooting photos for magazines like Downbeat and Life; record companies sometimes bought his pictures for album covers.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2019