noun
-
music
-
a usually unaccented beat, esp the last in a bar
-
the upward gesture of a conductor's baton indicating this Compare downbeat
-
-
an upward trend (in prosperity, etc)
adjective
Etymology
Origin of upbeat
1865–70; 1950–55 upbeat for def. 3; up- + beat
Explanation
If you tend to be cheerful and positive no matter what's going on, your friends probably describe you as upbeat. When your soccer coach wants to be encouraging, she gives the team an upbeat speech. Need to cheer yourself up? Spend some time with an upbeat friend, watch an upbeat movie, or listen to some upbeat music. This informal adjective comes from the word's original musical meaning, "the beat of a bar at which the conductor's baton is in a raised position." Music writers in the 1940s used the slang phrase "on the upbeat" to mean "getting better." The "cheerful" meaning followed around 1947.
Vocabulary lists containing upbeat
Cindy Williams (1947–2023) Tribute List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Louisiana’s Way Home
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Zara's Rules for Record-Breaking Fun
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Upbeat commentary from Seagate Technology Holdings and NXP Semiconductors is helping the semiconductor sector snap back.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026
Upbeat Midwestern activists withstood whipping winds to form a line of protesters stretching nearly three blocks of Burlington Avenue in Hastings, Neb.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026
Upbeat earnings from technology giants and a flurry of artificial-intelligence deals powered the Nasdaq composite higher for a seventh consecutive month, its longest stretch of monthly gains since 2018.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025
Upbeat anthem Golden, one of the standout songs from its soundtrack, leapt three places to take the number one spot from Justin Bieber in this week's top 40.
From BBC • Aug. 1, 2025
So I’ve been sending them Upbeat Instagram Arthur texts for weeks.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
