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

"When you mention they could see a blind skier coming downhill at 100 kilometres an hour, the reaction is: 'No, no. That's not possible'."

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"Things are only going in one direction, it's going downhill, and so we really need help from the government to make it viable," he said.

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The first Test of a series is usually his best, then it goes downhill.

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“It’s a harder course than Pierce. Even the downhills are steep … you never really get a break.”

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A debris flow is a type of landslide that is caused when heavy rain starts rushing downhill and picks up mud and debris.

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Related Words

• falling www.thesaurus.com