downhill

American  

[doun-hil, doun-hil] / ˈdaʊnˈhɪl, ˈdaʊnˌhɪl /

adverb

1. down the slope of a hill; downward.

2. into a worse or inferior condition.

   The business has been going downhill.

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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 British  

/ ˈdaʊnˈhɪl /

adjective

1. going or sloping down

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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

Etymology

Origin of downhill

First recorded in 1585–95; down ¹ + hill

Example Sentences

Magic sometimes sat on the toboggan while Duane pulled, and she sometimes ran around Duane when she couldn’t sit still any longer because she was too excited thinking about going downhill.

From Literature

Vonn has won 84 World Cup races and three Olympic medals, including gold in the downhill at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

From Los Angeles Times

The three-time gold medalist for Team USA broke her left leg when she crashed during the women’s downhill competition earlier this month.

From Salon

American ski star Lindsey Vonn, who suffered a horrific fall in the Olympic downhill in Cortina, on Monday thanked the doctor who saved her leg.

From Barron's

The American skiing great, 41, has had multiple operations since breaking her leg and ankle in the women's downhill event in Italy on 8 February.

From BBC

Related Words

• falling