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

Noun

• hill
• incline

Adjective

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

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

The walk takes campers past a side turn to a group site uphill past a roadside water spigot, after which a fork in the dirt road gives campers an option to head right to the East Bay sites or farther forward to the Sunrise sites. —Don Sproul, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025

Walking or running uphill, or on uneven or hard surfaces, can also overwork the tibialis anterior, triggering shin tightness and pain. —Jenny McCoy, SELF, 3 Sep. 2025

Noun

The evolution of intelligent life around red dwarf stars is likely to be an uphill slog, due to the demands needed to jumpstart oxygenic photosynthesis. —Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

For once, her frantic behavior was not a problem—instead, her pulling made my uphills a little easier. —Ula Chrobak, Outside, 9 Aug. 2025

Adjective

Ranger Danny will lead a 2-mile uphill hike to the view of Patterson Ranch. —Jake Richardson, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025

Indiana has been resilient despite its physical strain and uphill run, and a playoff upset without its main playmaker would be something to see for head coach Stephanie White. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025

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