: a steady pronounced rhythm stressing the second and fourth beats of a four-beat measure
Examples of backbeat in a Sentence
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The lyrics are complemented by a southern rock backbeat and swampy slide guitar that give the whole thing a chill vibe.
—
Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025
The ascent from quiet guitar picking to soul backbeat to power chords feels inevitable but satisfying.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Advertisement What had been the backbeat of a bygone epoch, the waltz amazingly survived in the 20th century.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Along with resonate vocals from both, credit Mars’ rhythmic instincts for including drums that power the urgency of the song’s lyrics, with fills nudging the chorus instead of existing merely as a backbeat.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
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Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025
The ascent from quiet guitar picking to soul backbeat to power chords feels inevitable but satisfying.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Advertisement What had been the backbeat of a bygone epoch, the waltz amazingly survived in the 20th century.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Along with resonate vocals from both, credit Mars’ rhythmic instincts for including drums that power the urgency of the song’s lyrics, with fills nudging the chorus instead of existing merely as a backbeat.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for backbeat
Cite this Entry
“Backbeat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/backbeat. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
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backbeat
noun
back·beat
-ˌbēt 
: a steady pronounced rhythm stressing the second and fourth beats of a four-beat measure
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