adverb
Uncommon
downhill
down-HIHL
Downhill (adverb) means Towards the bottom of a slope. Example: “The bike coasted downhill without any pedaling.”
adverb
1
Towards the bottom of a slope.
"The bike coasted downhill without any pedaling."
"The stream flows downhill until it reaches the village."
"We pushed the broken car downhill and it rolled to a stop."
adjective
1
Getting steadily worse.
"Things went downhill after the funding fell through."
"After he lost his job, his health took a downhill turn."
"The team's season became a downhill slide after the first loss."
noun
1
A high-speed alpine skiing event, or the act of skiing down a slope fast.
"She won gold in the downhill at the Olympics."
"He trained for the downhill every winter in the mountains."
"The downhill is the fastest event at the ski championships."
How to use downhill
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMoving toward the bottom of a hill — often used figuratively for things getting steadily worse.
Common pairings
go downhill
downhill skiing
all downhill from here
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Word forms
- Plural
- downhills
- Third person singular
- downhills
- Past tense
- downhilled
- Comparative
- further downhill, farther downhill
- Superlative
- furthest downhill, farthest downhill
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bike coasted _____ without any pedaling.
Etymology
Downhill is formed from down- and hill.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “downhill” mean?
The word “downhill” means towards the bottom of a slope. In plain terms, moving toward the bottom of a hill — often used figuratively for things getting steadily worse.
How do you pronounce “downhill”?
“Downhill” is pronounced down-HIHL (/ˌdaʊnˈhɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “downhill” in a sentence?
Here is “downhill” used in a sentence: “The bike coasted downhill without any pedaling.”
What is the opposite of “downhill”?
The opposite of “downhill” — its antonyms — is uphill.
What part of speech is “downhill”?
Depending on how it is used, “downhill” can be an adverb, an adjective and a noun.
Is “downhill” a common word?
“Downhill” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “downhill” have?
“Downhill” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: towards the bottom of a slope.
What is the difference between "downhill" as an adverb and as an adjective?
As an adverb, "downhill" describes movement towards the bottom of a slope, as in "the car rolled downhill." As an adjective, it describes something getting steadily worse, as in "his health took a downhill turn."
What does it mean when someone says a situation "went downhill"?
This is a figurative use of "downhill" meaning the situation has been getting steadily worse. It draws on the adjective sense of decline rather than the literal sense of descending a slope.
Is "downhill" a specific event in skiing?
Yes, "downhill" refers to a high-speed alpine skiing event, as well as more generally to the act of skiing down a slope fast. It is one of the recognized disciplines in competitive alpine skiing.
