upbeat

UK: /ˈʌpbiːt/ US: /ˈʌpˌbit/ ,(up′bēt′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

up•beat /ˈʌpˌbit/   n. [countable]

1. Music and Dance an unaccented beat in music.
2. Music and Dance the upward stroke with which a conductor indicates such a beat.

adj. 

3. optimistic;
   happy;
   cheerful:
   an upbeat report on the economy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

up•beat  (up′bēt′), n. [Music.]

1. Music and Dance an unaccented beat, esp. immediately preceding a downbeat.
2. Music and Dance the upward stroke with which a conductor indicates such a beat.

adj. 

3. optimistic;
   happy;
   cheerful:
   television dramas with predictably upbeat endings.

• 1865–70; 1950–55 for def. 3; up- + beat

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

upbeat / ˈʌpˌbiːt/ noun

1. a usually unaccented beat, esp the last in a bar
2. the upward gesture of a conductor's baton indicating this
   Compare downbeat

adjective

1. marked by cheerfulness or optimism