uphill

1 of 3

adverb

up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: upward on a hill or incline
2
: against difficulties
seemed to be talking uphillWilla Cather

uphill

2 of 3

noun

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
: rising ground : ascent

uphill

3 of 3

adjective

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: situated on elevated ground
2
a
: going up : ascending
b
: being the higher one or part especially of a set
specifically : being nearer the top of an incline
3

Examples of uphill in a Sentence

Adverb It is easier to ride a bicycle downhill than uphill. Noun no matter where you go bicycle touring, the uphills always seem to outnumber the downhills Adjective It has been an uphill battle for her to get an education. an uphill battle to eradicate poverty in an area of the state that has never known anything else
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
Under the glaring sun, people poured toward the notorious facility north of Damascus, as traffic stretched for miles and some left their cars to walk the last stretch uphill, past barbed wire fences and watchtowers. Clarissa Ward, CNN, 10 Dec. 2024 The view uphill towards the bend where Muriel crashed (Credit: Jacob Whitehead) After Furrer’s group passes, the foursome can be seen in the distance navigating another left hander, the penultimate bend before the crash site. Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
In tight 180-degree uphill turns that require some advanced maneuvers - or a dismount - the Mustang’s motorcycle-type twist throttle and my off-road motorcycle riding instincts nicely meshed. William Roberson, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024 On the uphill, the 4-Quattro Pro also saw improvements over its predecessor, the 4-Quattro XT. Outside Editors, Outside Online, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The star recently detailed his extensive training regime, which includes compound lifts, uphill sprints, and a strict diet centring on the mass consumption of chicken breast. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025 This finer level of control allows the rider to handle the Mustang more easily in technical situations, including putting a foot down, rolling on the power via the throttle and sliding the rear tire around a tight uphill corner without losing momentum. William Roberson, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for uphill 

Word History

First Known Use

Adverb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1548, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of uphill was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near uphill

Cite this Entry

“Uphill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uphill. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

uphill

1 of 2 adverb
up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: in an upward direction
2
: against difficulties

uphill

2 of 2 adjective
up·​hill ˌəp-ˌhil How to pronounce uphill (audio)
1
: being on high ground
2
: going up : ascending
3
: difficult sense 1
an uphill struggle

More from Merriam-Webster on uphill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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