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

A 2024 BMW M3 was eastbound on the two-lane highway that slopes downhill when the driver lost control, veering off-road and down a steep embankment, the CHP said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

"Pakistan was very open in public in embracing its role as a mediator which certainly subjected it to certain risks, such as being viewed as the fall guy if things went downhill," Kugelman said.

From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026

That request has been rejected by Natural England, which says the area's environment is still going downhill.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

At the time, Ibrahimovic had an English bulldog who could handle going downhill, but struggled going the other way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026

The passages were sloping steeper and steeper downhill now.

From "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" by Roald Dahl

Related Words

• falling