- a usually unaccented beat, esp the last in a bar
- the upward gesture of a conductor's baton indicating this
Compare downbeat
- informal marked by cheerfulness or optimism
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
up•beat /ˈʌpˌbit/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Music and Dancean unaccented beat in music.
- Music and Dancethe upward stroke with which a conductor indicates such a beat.
adj.
- optimistic;
happy;
cheerful:an upbeat report on the economy.
up•beat
(up′bēt′),USA pronunciation n. [Music.]
adj.
- Music and Dancean unaccented beat, esp. immediately preceding a downbeat.
- Music and Dancethe upward stroke with which a conductor indicates such a beat.
adj.
- optimistic;
happy;
cheerful:television dramas with predictably upbeat endings.
- 1865–70; 1950–55 for def. 3; up- + beat
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
upbeat /ˈʌpˌbiːt/ n
'upbeat' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):