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

Among the choicest: The champion skier from Norway starts his day with a breakfast that his father finds revolting, and he’s “too afraid” of downhill cycling to consider switching sports.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Three years later, he aced No. 7 at Pebble Beach, the cliff-side hole that at 106 yards manages to be both stunning and treacherous because it’s so steeply downhill.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

For Bondi, it was all downhill from there.

From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026

“Not to name names, but they are all physical, they’re all downhill players. They protect the football well. What their bodies look like is phenomenal,” Chesney said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

About fifteen feet away downhill was the fence to the neighbor’s house.

From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge

Related Words

• falling