down·hill
ˌdau̇n-ˈhil 
1
: toward the bottom of a hill
2
: toward a worsened or inferior state or level
—used especially in the phrase go downhill
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
down·hill
ˈdau̇n-ˌhil
1
: not difficult : easy
after that problem the rest was downhill
2
: sloping downhill
3
: closer to the bottom of an incline
your downhill ski
4
: progressively worse
5
American football
: relating to, employing, or being a style of running in which a ballcarrier moves powerfully forward into the line of scrimmage and down the field toward the opponent's end zone without a lot of movement toward the sidelines to avoid tacklers
a downhill runner
The Tigers use their tight ends as blockers. They're more suited to an assertive, downhill running game now.—
Bernie Miklasz
Bernie MiklaszExamples of downhill in a Sentence
Adverb
It is easier to ride a bike downhill than uphill.
Her career is heading downhill.
After his divorce, he went downhill fast.
The service has gone downhill under the new owner.
Noun
most runners will have their best splits on the downhills
Adjective
The second half of the hike is mostly downhill.
The worst part is over. It's all downhill from here.
The first part of the movie was pretty good, but after that it was all downhill.
His career has been all downhill in recent years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Before her fateful downhill run Sunday — one that ended with a violent crash after 13 seconds — Lindsey Vonn pulled on a pair of out-of-production gloves from her childhood skiing idol, Picabo Street.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Becky Sullivan, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Mikaela Shiffrin struggles in the slalom portion of the event after teammate Breezy Johnson finishes first in the downhill.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Lindsey Vonn wiped out in a downhill race on January 30.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downhill
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adverb
So far, he’s been spotted draped in a full-length, white fluffy coat and fire engine-red hat and gloves, watching the women’s downhill race, and casually chatting with onlookers at the curling mixed doubles, adorned in a zip-jacket emblazoned with Team USA players’ faces.
—Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Before her fateful downhill run Sunday — one that ended with a violent crash after 13 seconds — Lindsey Vonn pulled on a pair of out-of-production gloves from her childhood skiing idol, Picabo Street.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Sofia Goggia, the beloved 33-year-old Italian skier, lost control on a turn during the downhill leg and recorded a DNF.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Mikaela Shiffrin struggles in the slalom portion of the event after teammate Breezy Johnson finishes first in the downhill.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Truck crashes in Philippines; 9 dead MANILA, Philippines -- A truck veered off a downhill mountain road and plunged into a ravine in the central Philippines, killing nine workers on board, investigators said.
—Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Lindsey Vonn wiped out in a downhill race on January 30.
—Michal Ruprecht, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for downhill
Cite this Entry
“Downhill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/downhill. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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