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downhill. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
downhill, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
downhill in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
downhill you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From down- + hill.
Pronunciation
- (adjective, noun) IPA(key): /ˈdaʊnˌhɪl/
- (adverb) IPA(key): /ˌdaʊnˈhɪl/
- Rhymes: -ɪl
Adverb
downhill (comparative farther or further downhill, superlative farthest or furthest downhill)
- Down a slope.
- Synonym: downslope
Because we got to the summit of the mountain, we could only go downhill from there.
2006, Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma, The Penguin Press, →ISBN, page 388:I worked my way downhill, slip sliding in the mud along a steep embankment that followed a stream until it emptied into a creek.
- (by extension) Deteriorating, getting worse.
- Hyponyms: down the drain, down the tubes; down the toilet (crude)
After Don made those tasteless remarks, our relationship with him went downhill.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
Adjective
downhill (comparative further downhill, superlative furthest downhill)
- Located down a slope or hill.
- Going down a slope or a hill.
1951 October, R. S. McNaught, “Lines of Approach”, in Railway Magazine, page 706:It was nearly all downhill into Shrewsbury, with two intermediate stops, and a grand sequence of long curves around which Soult nuzzled her way with a quick side-to-side action.
- (by extension) Easy.
Usage notes
- "Easy" sense: comparative and superlative are usually made with more and most.
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
Noun
downhill (countable and uncountable, plural downhills)
- (uncountable) The fastest of the disciplines of alpine skiing.
- (countable) A rapid descent of a hill in related sports, especially in alpine skiing.
Derived terms
Translations
discipline of alpine skiing
Verb
downhill (third-person singular simple present downhills, present participle downhilling, simple past and past participle downhilled)
- To take part in downhill skiing.
Spanish
Noun
downhill m (plural downhills)
- downhill (skiing)