Pronunciation: /daʊnbiːt/

Definitions of downbeat

noun a downward stroke or movement, as in conducting

Example Sentences

A1 The music had a downbeat rhythm that made it easy to dance to.

A2 The downbeat of the song set a somber tone for the rest of the performance.

B1 The downbeat of the news article made me feel pessimistic about the future.

B2 The downbeat of the novel foreshadowed a tragic ending.

C1 The downbeat of the speech conveyed a sense of resignation and despair.

C2 The downbeat of the film's soundtrack added depth and emotion to the scenes.

adjective indicating the first beat of a measure

Example Sentences

A1 The weather forecast for tomorrow is downbeat, with rain expected all day.

A2 The team's performance in the match was quite downbeat, as they lost by a large margin.

B1 The movie had a downbeat ending, leaving the audience feeling a bit sad.

B2 Despite the downbeat economic forecast, the company decided to move forward with their expansion plans.

C1 The novel's tone was consistently downbeat, reflecting the bleak reality of the characters' lives.

C2 The artist's latest album received critical acclaim for its downbeat lyrics and haunting melodies.

Examples of downbeat in a Sentence

formal The economist's downbeat forecast for the economy caused concern among investors.

informal I'm feeling a bit downbeat about the upcoming exam.

slang She always has a downbeat attitude, it's so annoying.

figurative Despite the setbacks, she refused to let her downbeat mood affect her performance.

Grammatical Forms of downbeat

past tense

downbeat

plural

downbeats

comparative

more downbeat

superlative

most downbeat

present tense

downbeats

future tense

will downbeat

perfect tense

have downbeat

continuous tense

is downbeating

singular

downbeat

positive degree

downbeat

infinitive

to downbeat

gerund

downbeating

participle

downbeaten

Origin and Evolution of downbeat

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The word 'downbeat' originated from the world of music, specifically in reference to the first beat of a musical measure.
Evolution of the word: Originally used in music to denote the first beat of a measure, 'downbeat' has evolved to also refer to a negative or pessimistic tone or attitude in general conversation.