adjective
upbeat
uhp-BEET
adjective
1
Cheerful, optimistic, and positive in tone.
"Despite the setback, her upbeat attitude kept the team motivated."
"The report gave an upbeat outlook for next quarter."
2
Having a fast, lively musical tempo.
"The band opened with an upbeat song to get the crowd dancing."
How to Use Upbeat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPositive and cheerful — or, in music, lively and fast-paced.
Common pairings
upbeat mood
upbeat tone
stay upbeat
Word Forms
more upbeat comparative, upbeats plural, most upbeat superlative
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Despite the setback, her _____ attitude kept the team motivated.
Etymology
Originally a music term for the unaccented beat before the main beat of a bar, later extended to mean generally cheerful or positive.