downbeat
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L319740 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /daʊnˈbiːt/ / /ˈdaʊnbiːt/
adj
Etymology: Earlier downbeaten, from the phrasal verb beat down
- Sad or pessimistic.
“He sounded downbeat when asked about his future plans.”
- Cautiously optimistic.
“She carried herself with a quiet downbeat grace.”
noun
Etymology: From down + beat.
- The accented beat at the beginning of a bar (indicated by a conductor with a downward stroke).