upbeat

Pluralupbeats

1. 1
   adjective

   Positive, lively, or perky in tone, attitude, or mood.

   Despite a slow quarter, the CEO stayed upbeat about the company's prospects for next year.

   Her latest letters from the hospital were more upbeat than anything she had written in months.

   Similaroptimistic, positive, cheerful, buoyant, hopeful

   Oppositedownbeat, pessimistic, gloomy, negative

2. 2
   adjective

   Moving at a fast pace or tempo; having a quick beat.

   The pianist took the waltz at an upbeat tempo, far quicker than the composer intended.

   Although the lyrics are heartbreaking, the song itself is upbeat, driven by a fast, pounding drum line.

   Similarfast, quick, brisk, lively

   Oppositeslow

3. 3
   nouncountable

   An unaccented beat that begins a phrase of music.

   The violins enter on the upbeat, a quiet lead-in before the full orchestra lands on the downbeat.

   The anthem opens with a short upbeat that leads into the first strong note of the melody.

   Similarpickup, anacrusis

   Oppositedownbeat

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