# downhill

/ˈdaʊnˈhɪɫ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/downhill
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. toward the bottom

adverb · CEFR B1

moving toward the bottom of a hill or slope.

For teachers: in a direction toward the bottom of a slope or incline.

- The bicycle picked up speed as it rolled downhill toward the park.
- The water flowed downhill through a series of narrow channels before eventually collecting in the valley reservoir.

### 2. getting worse

adverb · CEFR B2 · Informal

getting worse or losing quality over time.

For teachers: metaphorically moving toward a state of decline, deterioration, or failure.

- The business started to go downhill after the main shop closed.
- The quality of the service went downhill rapidly once the original management team resigned from their positions.

### 3. sloping down

adjective · CEFR B1

sloping or leading toward the bottom of a hill.

For teachers: sloping or leading in a downward direction.

- The downhill path was much easier to walk than the steep climb up.
- The downhill section of the racecourse is particularly treacherous during the winter months when ice forms on the asphalt.

### 4. skiing event

noun · CEFR B2

a type of skiing race where people go down a mountain very fast.

For teachers: a specific discipline in alpine skiing characterized by high speeds and a long course with few turns.

- She won a gold medal in the downhill at the winter games.
- The downhill is often considered the most dangerous event in alpine skiing due to the extreme speeds reached by the competitors.

## Examples

- The bike picked up speed as I rode downhill.
- After the lead singer left the band, their popularity went downhill very quickly.
- The skiers accelerated downhill, navigating the icy patches with a precision that only comes from years of professional training on the world's most difficult slopes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.