uphill

1 of 3

adverb

up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: upward on a hill or incline
2
: against difficulties
seemed to be talking uphillWilla Cather

uphill

2 of 3

noun

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
: rising ground : ascent

uphill

3 of 3

adjective

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: situated on elevated ground
2
a
: going up : ascending
b
: being the higher one or part especially of a set
specifically : being nearer the top of an incline
3

Examples of uphill in a Sentence

Adverb It is easier to ride a bicycle downhill than uphill. Noun no matter where you go bicycle touring, the uphills always seem to outnumber the downhills Adjective It has been an uphill battle for her to get an education. an uphill battle to eradicate poverty in an area of the state that has never known anything else
Recent Examples on the Web
Adverb
Start your drive from the west on Highway 88 in Jackson or Pioneer, then wind your way uphill until topping out at Carson Pass; a sharp descent plunges you into Hope Valley. Michele Herrmann, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 Over seven and a half hours, the train clatters uphill at 4.4 mph, arriving around 5:30 p.m. into the city famous for its tea. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2024
Noun
Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz described themselves as fighting uphill against former President Trump in Labor Day speeches to unions in critical swing states Michigan and Wisconsin. Andrew Childers, Axios, 3 Sep. 2024 Vary your incline: Walking uphill burns more calories and strengthens the muscles in your calves, back of your thighs, and buttocks. Aubrey Bailey, Pt, Dpt, Cht, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Whether or not his client is guilty, Haller already faces an uphill climb in court. Carita Rizzo, TVLine, 17 Oct. 2024 Former Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and other Muslim players of the 1990s faced an uphill climb against a society unwilling to accommodate their faith. Michael Shapiro, Chron, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for uphill 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'uphill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of uphill was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near uphill

Cite this Entry

“Uphill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uphill. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

uphill

1 of 2 adverb
up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: in an upward direction
2
: against difficulties

uphill

2 of 2 adjective
up·​hill ˌəp-ˌhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: being on high ground
2
: going up : ascending
3
: difficult sense 1
an uphill struggle

More from Merriam-Webster on uphill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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