downbeat
downbeat — adjective
- downbeatpositive
- more downbeatcomparative
- most downbeatsuperlative
1. having or showing a belief that things will not turn out well; lacking hope or p
having or showing a belief that things will not turn out well; lacking hope or positive energy about what is going to happen.
Talia felt downbeat after hearing the company's quarterly financial results.
downbeat + about/after + situation
The movie's ending was so downbeat that the audience left the theater in complete silence.
predicative: be downbeat
Jude tried to stay cheerful, but the downbeat mood in the waiting room affected everyone.
Economic forecasts for the coming year remain downbeat, with little chance of early recovery.
When asked about his job search, Aaron gave a downbeat shrug and changed the subject.
- gloomy
very close in meaning; 'gloomy' can also describe weather, while 'downbeat' is used for mood or outlook
- pessimistic
stronger focus on expecting the worst; more formal than 'downbeat'
- somber
suggests a serious, sad, or grave mood rather than hopelessness
- upbeat
direct opposite; positive and cheerful in outlook
- optimistic
focuses on expecting positive outcomes
文法句型
downbeat + about + noun phrase
downbeat + noun (atmosphere, mood, forecast)
用法筆記
Can be used both before a noun (attributive) and after a linking verb (predicative). Common with 'about': 'downbeat about the future / the economy / one's chances.'
常見錯誤
2. describes a musical piece or performance that moves at a slow speed and has a sa
describes a musical piece or performance that moves at a slow speed and has a sad or gentle emotional quality.
The band played a slow, downbeat melody that filled the room with calm.
downbeat + melody / music / tune
Kian prefers downbeat jazz to fast dance music when he wants to relax.
downbeat + genre (jazz / folk / blues)
The film's soundtrack is largely downbeat, with quiet piano pieces and gentle string sections.
Putri listened to downbeat folk songs on her long drive home through the evening rain.
- melancholy
more literary and formal; describes the same slow, sad quality in music
- slow
less specific — 'slow' only describes tempo, not emotional tone
- upbeat
musical sense — lively and cheerful in tempo and mood
文法句型
downbeat + music / melody / soundtrack / jazz
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used before a noun describing a type of music, a song, or a performance. Not used predicatively when describing people's emotions — if a person seems sad, use sense 1 instead.
常見錯誤
downbeat — noun
- downbeatsingular
- downbeatsplural
1. in music, the strongest beat within a bar, which typically falls on the first co
in music, the strongest beat within a bar, which typically falls on the first count and receives special emphasis when the piece is played or conducted.
The conductor's baton came down sharply on the downbeat, and the full orchestra began to play together.
on the downbeat
In four-four time, the downbeat falls on the first note of each measure and gets the heaviest accent.
downbeat falls on [position]
Aaron counted carefully, emphasizing each downbeat so the choir stayed perfectly together.
The drummer marked every downbeat with a strong kick of the bass drum to keep the rhythm solid.
- first beat
non-technical equivalent; describes the same position in the bar
- accented beat
describes the emphasis, though not all accented beats are downbeats
- upbeat
the weak beat or the last beat in a bar, before the downbeat
文法句型
on the downbeat
the downbeat of + bar/measure
用法筆記
Technical term used mainly in music education, conducting, and performance. Contrasts with 'upbeat,' which refers to the weaker beat(s) before the downbeat, or to the conductor's preparatory upward gesture.