downhill

[doun-hil, doun-hil]

adverb

1. down the slope of a hill; downward.

2. into a worse or inferior condition.

   The business has been going downhill.

adjective

1. going or tending downward on or as on a hill.

2. free of problems or obstacles; easy.

   After the initial setbacks on the project, it was downhill all the way.

3. of or relating to skiing downhill.

noun

1. a timed ski race on a steep slope in which competitors take the most direct route to the finish line following a course with relatively few turns and attaining very high speeds.

downhill

/ ˈdaʊnˈhɪl /

adjective

1. going or sloping down

adverb

1. towards the bottom of a hill; downwards

2. informal,  to decline; deteriorate

noun

1. the downward slope of a hill; descent

2. a competitive event in which skiers are timed in a downhill run

Word History and Origins

Origin of downhill¹

First recorded in 1585–95; down ¹ + hill

Example Sentences

According to an eyewitness, Prefontaine was driving downhill on a two-lane road when he swerved to avoid another car, slammed against an embankment and flipped his vehicle.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The target is a subset of long-distance races that begin high in the mountains and pitch participants downhill.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

El Rancho Escondido Road had a bump or two along the way, breaking up the downhill riding with a little climbing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Peaches died early in this downhill slide, but now Cliff is gone too, having been abducted and tortured by the gang.

Read more on Salon

A single dad-of-three said he was forced to move in with his parents and rely on a food bank when "things just went downhill quick" after losing his job.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• falling www.thesaurus.com