1. the first beats of musical measures, typically accented and marked by a conductor’s downward motion
Usage: music
2. pessimistic or depressing elements or aspects
Usage: informal

Examples

• The conductor emphasized the downbeats with sharp gestures.
• Musicians must stay synchronized with the downbeats to maintain proper timing.
• The orchestra struggled to hit the downbeats together during rehearsal.
• Despite the movie’s humor, there were several emotional downbeats.
• The news report focused too much on the downbeats of the economic situation.
• She tried to balance the story’s downbeats with moments of hope.