down·hill
ˌdau̇n-ˈhil 
1
: toward the bottom of a hill
2
: toward a worsened or inferior state or level
—used especially in the phrase go downhill
down·hill
ˈdau̇n-ˌhil
1
: a descending slope
2
a
: the sport of skiing on downhill trails
—often used attributively
b
: a skiing race against time down a trail
finished second in the downhill
down·hill
ˈdau̇n-ˌhil
1
: not difficult : easy
after that problem the rest was downhill
2
: sloping downhill
3
: closer to the bottom of an incline
your downhill ski
4
: progressively worse
5
American football
: relating to, employing, or being a style of running in which a ballcarrier moves powerfully forward into the line of scrimmage and down the field toward the opponent's end zone without a lot of movement toward the sidelines to avoid tacklers
a downhill runner
The Tigers use their tight ends as blockers. They're more suited to an assertive, downhill running game now.—
Bernie Miklasz
Bernie MiklaszSynonyms
Examples of downhill in a Sentence
Adverb
It is easier to ride a bike downhill than uphill.
Her career is heading downhill.
After his divorce, he went downhill fast.
The service has gone downhill under the new owner.
Noun
most runners will have their best splits on the downhills
Adjective
The second half of the hike is mostly downhill.
The worst part is over. It's all downhill from here.
The first part of the movie was pretty good, but after that it was all downhill.
His career has been all downhill in recent years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
According to the weather service, areas downhill or downstream from recent wildfires are most susceptible to flash flooding or debris flow, and that risk can last for years after a fire.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Zack Pierce, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
But Vonn continues to hold the record among men and women World Cup wins in downhill (43) and super-G (28).
—Michelle Bruton, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
Lie also finished second in this race two years ago while Brignone finished on the podium for the first time in Cortina and moved atop both the downhill and overall standings.
—Andrew Dampf, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for downhill 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adverb
When rainfall intensity is high — falling at more than half an inch per hour — water can start flowing on the surface downhill, instead of percolating below ground, and can begin to pick up rocks and debris.
—Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
According to the weather service, areas downhill or downstream from recent wildfires are most susceptible to flash flooding or debris flow, and that risk can last for years after a fire.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
Noun
Vonn was a member of the 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2018 U.S. Olympic teams, winning three medals — including gold in the downhill in Vancouver in 2010.
—Zack Pierce, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
But Vonn continues to hold the record among men and women World Cup wins in downhill (43) and super-G (28).
—Michelle Bruton, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
One of those resulted in a seismic downhill dunk by James, with Porzingis stepping aside to avoid posterization.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
Lie also finished second in this race two years ago while Brignone finished on the podium for the first time in Cortina and moved atop both the downhill and overall standings.
—Andrew Dampf, The Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for downhill
Dictionary Entries Near downhill
Cite this Entry
“Downhill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downhill. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
downhill
1 of 3 adverb
down·hill
ˌdau̇n-ˈhil
1
: toward the bottom of a hill
sleds speeding downhill
2
: toward a worsened or lower state or level
her health went downhill quickly
downhill
2 of 3 adjective
down·hill
ˈdau̇n-ˌhil
: sloping downhill
downhill
3 of 3 noun
down·hill
-ˌhil
1
: the sport of skiing on downhill trails
downhill skiing
2
: a skiing race against time down a trail
finished second in the downhill
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share