down·beat
ˈdau̇n-ˌbēt 
1
: the downward stroke of a conductor indicating the principally accented note of a measure of music
also
: the first beat of a measure
2
: a decline in activity or prosperity
: pessimistic, gloomy
a downbeat assessment
Examples of downbeat in a Sentence
Adjective
a downbeat prediction for the company's sales performance in the upcoming year
Recent Examples on the Web
Steve Donofrio, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
Economist Jonathan Pingle at UBS said the downbeat forecast isn’t merely a function of tariffs but rather a broader view of weakness in the labor market and consumer spending and tighter expectations for fiscal spending.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Nike to raise prices, sell on Amazon Macy's slashed its full-year profit forecast on Wednesday, attributing the downbeat expectations in part to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
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Noun
From the first downbeat to the last, audience members danced and bobbed their heads, bearing a resemblance to the nearby ocean.
—Steve Donofrio, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024
Economist Jonathan Pingle at UBS said the downbeat forecast isn’t merely a function of tariffs but rather a broader view of weakness in the labor market and consumer spending and tighter expectations for fiscal spending.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Shares of American Eagle were also lower in extended trading: The retailer missed first-quarter earnings estimates and issued downbeat guidance for the second quarter.
4.
—Josephine Rozzelle, CNBC, 30 May 2025
Nike to raise prices, sell on Amazon Macy's slashed its full-year profit forecast on Wednesday, attributing the downbeat expectations in part to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downbeat
Cite this Entry
“Downbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downbeat. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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