uphill

American  

[uhp-hil, uhp-hil] / ˈʌpˈhɪl, ˈʌpˌhɪl /

adverb

1. up or as if up the slope of a hill or other incline; upward.

   The soldiers marched uphill. Water does not run uphill without assistance.

---

adjective

1. going or tending upward on or as if on a hill.

   an uphill road.

2. at a high place or point.

   an uphill village.

3. laboriously fatiguing or difficult.

   an uphill struggle to become wealthy.

   Synonyms:

   grueling, taxing, strenuous, hard, arduous

noun

1. a rising terrain; ascent.

uphill British  

/ ˈʌpˈhɪl /

adjective

1. inclining, sloping, or leading upwards

2. requiring arduous and protracted effort

   an uphill task

---

adverb

1. up an incline or slope; upwards

2. against difficulties

noun

1. a rising incline; ascent

Etymology

Origin of uphill

First recorded in 1540–50; up- + hill

Example Sentences

In “The Myth of Sisyphus,” Camus describes a man doomed to push a boulder uphill forever and asks us to imagine him “happy.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But there’s no question that artists are fighting uphill like never before.

From Los Angeles Times

California leaders cheered the ruling as a turning of the tide in what until now has been an uphill legal battle to constrain the president’s use of state troops.

From Los Angeles Times

The tourists face an uphill task to stay in the match and the series after Australia closed on 378-6 - 44 runs ahead.

From BBC

Getting such a large base of people who own a passive index investment to engage is an uphill battle just on its face.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• arduous
• exhausting
• grueling
• punishing
• strenuous