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 MiklaszExamples 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
Melina Khan, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Some discerning diners worried that Michelin had gone downhill.
—Tulasi Srinivas, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2025
Namely, making a downhill defender have to turn on a dime and sprint uphill, backpedaling between wing and prayer.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2025
That player was Alijah Clark. Clark, who played as a downhill safety for the Orange after transferring from Rutgers earlier in his college career, combined for 181 tackles in his final three seasons.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downhill
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Adverb
The group was ski mountaineering, which involves climbing uphill before skiing back downhill.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Some discerning diners worried that Michelin had gone downhill.
—Tulasi Srinivas, The Conversation, 3 June 2025
Noun
Men’s downhill: Odermatt (605 points) leads countryman Franjo von Allmen by 83 points.
—Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 20 Mar. 2025
Namely, making a downhill defender have to turn on a dime and sprint uphill, backpedaling between wing and prayer.
—Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Britt, a 25-year-old four-year veteran who started 11 games and totaled 72 tackles for the Buccaneers last season, is an aggressive downhill tackler.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2025
That player was Alijah Clark. Clark, who played as a downhill safety for the Orange after transferring from Rutgers earlier in his college career, combined for 181 tackles in his final three seasons.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for downhill
Cite this Entry
“Downhill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downhill. Accessed 13 Jun. 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
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