downhill

/'daun'hil/

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Explanation of "Downhill"

Definition: - Adjective: "Downhill" describes something that is sloping down, usually steeply. For example, if you are walking or skiing, and you are going down a hill, you are going downhill.

Usage Instructions:

• As an Adjective: Use "downhill" to describe something that is sloping down.

  • Example: "The path is very downhill, making it easy to walk."

• As an Adverb: Use it when describing movement towards a lower place.

  • Example: "We ran downhill and felt the wind against our faces."

• As a Noun: Use it when talking about skiing or the slope itself.

  • Example: "The downhill race was exciting to watch."

Advanced Usage:

• Figurative Meaning: "Downhill" can also mean going into a worse situation or condition.
  • Example: "After the changes, the project began to go downhill."

Word Variants:

• "Downhill" (adjective/adverb/noun) is the primary form. There are no direct variants, but you might see related words like:
  • "Downhill skiing" (a type of skiing that goes down slopes).
  • "Downhill racer" (a person who participates in downhill races).

Different Meanings:

1. Physical Movement: Moving down a slope or hill.
2. Decline: Referring to a decrease in quality or performance.

Synonyms:

• Sloping down
• Declining (when used figuratively)
• Downward

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Going downhill": This idiom means that something is getting worse or declining.

  • Example: "Since the new manager took over, the team's morale has been going downhill."

• "Downhill from here": This phrase means that after a certain point, things will become easier or better.

Academic

Adjective

1. sloping down rather steeply

Adverb

1. toward the bottom of a hill
   • running downhill, he gained a lot of speed
2. toward a lower or inferior state
   • your performance has been going downhill for a long time now

Noun

1. a ski race down a trail
2. the downward slope of a hill

Synonyms

• declivitous
• downward-sloping