# Hill

/ˈhɪɫ/ (US) · /hˈɪl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hill
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. natural elevation

noun · CEFR A2

a high area of land that is smaller and less steep than a mountain.

For teachers: a naturally raised area of land, lower and less rugged than a mountain.

- We walked to the top of the hill to see the view of the city.
- The rolling hills of the countryside were dotted with small sheep farms and ancient stone walls.

### 2. sloping road

noun · CEFR B1

a part of a road that goes up or down.

For teachers: an inclined section of a road or path.

- My bicycle chain broke while I was pedaling up a steep hill.
- The heavy truck struggled to maintain speed while ascending the long hill on the motorway.

### 3. government

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Formal

a name for the area where a government meets, like the US Congress.

For teachers: a metonym for a legislative body, specifically the US Congress or the Parliament of Canada, based on their physical locations.

- The new law is currently being debated by politicians on the Hill.
- Speculation regarding the upcoming budget spread quickly across the Hill as lobbyists gathered outside the committee rooms.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article as 'the Hill'.

### 4. mound of earth

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a small pile of earth or soil, often put around a plant.

For teachers: a small heap or mound of earth, typically one piled around the base of a plant in agriculture.

- The gardener made a small hill of soil around each potato plant.
- Traditional farming methods involve planting corn in individual hills to ensure proper drainage and root support.

### 5. to pile earth

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to pull soil into a pile around a plant.

For teachers: to form earth into a heap or to draw earth around the roots of plants.

- You should hill the beans once they reach a few inches in height.
- The farmer spent the afternoon hilling the rows of crops to protect the developing tubers from sunlight exposure.

Usage: Often used in agricultural or gardening contexts.

## Examples

- We walked up the hill to see the sunset.
- The children spent the afternoon rolling down the grassy hill behind their house.
- From the crest of the hill, the entire valley stretched out before us, dotted with small farms and winding streams.

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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.