hill

1 of 2

noun

ˈhil 

1

: a usually rounded natural elevation of land lower than a mountain

2

: an artificial heap or mound (as of earth)

3

: several seeds or plants planted in a group rather than a row

4

: slope, incline

hill

2 of 2

verb

hilled; hilling; hills

transitive verb

1

: to form into a heap

2

: to draw earth around the roots or base of

hiller noun

Synonyms of hill

Noun

• ascent
• incline
• climb
• uphill

Verb

• mound
• pile
• stack
• bank

Examples of hill in a Sentence

Noun

She watched the sun set behind the hills.

The house was built at the very top of the hill.

Our driveway is a long, steep hill.

He came barreling down the hill at 65 miles per hour.

The plows came and cleared the streets, forming a hill of snow on the street corner.

Verb

hilled peat moss around the rosebushes to protect them from the freeze

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Beyond them, the concrete of the 21st century falls away, replaced by creamy pillars and marble paving stretching into the distance, with green hills beyond. —Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026

From the West Side to the East Side, the riverfront to the surrounding hills, Cincinnati is a city of 52 unique neighborhoods. —David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Feb. 2026

Verb

This process is called hilling and creates an area of loose soil where tubers easily form while being shaded from the sun. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026

Some members say conversations are still ongoing about redistricting in Indiana, though Thursday’s vote makes that hill a steeper climb for Republicans with a candidate deadline in February fast-approaching. —Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hyll; akin to Latin collis hill, culmen top

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hill

• a hill of beans
• hill climb
• hill mynah
• over-the-hill

Rhymes for hill

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• gill
• grill
• grille
• jill
• kill

Kids Definition

hill

1 of 2 noun

ˈhil 

1

: a usually rounded height of land lower than a mountain

2

: an artificial heap or mound (as of earth)

3

: several seeds or plants planted in a group rather than a row

a hill of beans

hill

2 of 2 verb

1

: to form into a heap

2

: to draw earth around the roots or base of

Biographical Definition

Hill 1 of 4

biographical name (1)

ˈhil 

Ambrose Powell 1825–1865 American Confederate general

Hill

2 of 4

biographical name (2)

Archibald Vivian 1886–1977 English physiologist

Hill

3 of 4

biographical name (3)

James Jerome 1838–1916 American (Canadian-born) financier

Hill

4 of 4

biographical name (4)

Sir Rowland 1795–1879 English postal reformer