downhill

noun

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

Synonyms of downhill

• dip
• descent
• decline
• fall

Examples of downhill in a Sentence

most runners will have their best splits on the downhills

Recent Examples on the Web

Castle has mixed up playing on and off the ball so that his downhill, slow style could come out when needed. —Jared Weiss, New York Times, 21 May 2026

The morning of the Olympic downhill race was sunny and bright. —Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 2026

His excellent size-speed combination, and aggressive downhill style creates disruption and turnover chances. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Downs, 21, a 6-foot, 206-pound game wrecker, is an Alabama transfer who disrupts offenses consistently with a high football IQ and a downhill, violent play style. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for downhill

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill
• gristmill

Kids 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