noun
- unaccented beats in musical time, especially those occurring before the first beat of a measure
Usage: music
Examples
- The song begins with several upbeats before the main melody starts.
- Musicians must count the upbeats carefully to enter at the right time.
- The conductor emphasized the upbeats in the opening phrase.
- She practiced clapping along with the upbeats and downbeats.
- The waltz has two upbeats followed by a strong downbeat.
- Beginning violinists often struggle with pieces that start on upbeats.