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Added 29 September 2026

upbeat

/ʌpˈbit/ adjective

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about upbeat at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Having a fast pace, tempo, or beat.
The notes are easy, but it's an upbeat tune and should be played fairly quickly.
Having a positive, lively, or perky tone, attitude, etc.
Though he had bad news, he ended with an upbeat forecast for the future.

noun

An unaccented beat at the start of a musical phrase.
The conductor said: I give you three beats for nothing and then you come in on the upbeat.

Origin

From up- + beat.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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