uphill

1 of 3

adverb

up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil 

1

: upward on a hill or incline

2

: against difficulties

… seemed to be talking uphill.

—Willa Cather

uphill

2 of 3

noun

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil 

: rising ground : ascent

uphill

3 of 3

adjective

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil 

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

: difficult, laborious

Synonyms of uphill

Noun

• hill
• incline

Adjective

• difficult
• challenging
• tough
• hard
• rigorous
• demanding

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

To accelerate uphill, the skis must experience a small amount of friction while moving in the forward direction. —Amy Pope, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026

Students dropped off by their parents would go from walking downhill to reach the campus to walking uphill, and the inverse is true for kids dropped off by bus. —Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

Noun

The Chiefs’ run over the last decade was akin to moving a boulder uphill. —Sam McDowell 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026

During an initial ascent, athletes wear adhesive skins on the bottoms of their skis, which enable them to ski uphill. —Mark Scaglione, NBC news, 3 Feb. 2026

Adjective

The roughly 2-mile uphill climb to the top will raise your heart rate, and the terrain is challenging, with several rocky sections and deep crevices caused by years of erosion. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026

Skimo racers sprint uphill on a steep course using skins on their skis for traction. —Frederick Dreier, Outside, 5 Feb. 2026

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

Phrases Containing uphill

• uphill battle

Rhymes for uphill

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

Kids Definition

uphill

1 of 2 adverb

up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil 

1

: in an upward direction

2

: against difficulties

uphill

2 of 2 adjective

up·​hill ˌəp-ˌhil 

1

: being on high ground

2

: going up : ascending

3

: difficult sense 1

an uphill struggle