English · Word Candidate

upbeat

/ʌpˈbit/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: upbeats

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Having a fast pace, tempo, or beat.

Adjective

The notes are easy, but it's an upbeat tune and should be played fairly quickly.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Having a positive, lively, or perky tone, attitude, etc.

Adjective

Though he had bad news, he ended with an upbeat forecast for the future.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

An unaccented beat at the start of a musical phrase.

Noun

The conductor said: I give you three beats for nothing and then you come in on the upbeat.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “upbeat” mean?

Having a fast pace, tempo, or beat.

Is “upbeat” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.