uphill

1 of 3

adverb

up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil 

1

: upward on a hill or incline

2

: against difficulties

seemed to be talking uphill

—Willa Cather

uphill

2 of 3

noun

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil 

: rising ground : ascent

uphill

3 of 3

adjective

up·​hill ˈəp-ˌhil 

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

: difficult, laborious

Synonyms

Noun

• acclivity
• ascent
• hill
• rise
• upgrade
• uprise

Adjective

• arduous
• Augean
• backbreaking
• challenging
• demanding
• difficult
• effortful
• exacting
• formidable
• grueling
• gruelling
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• herculean
• killer
• laborious
• moiling
• murderous
• pick-and-shovel
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stiff
• strenuous
• sweaty
• tall
• testing
• toilsome
• tough

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

Adverb

Over seven and a half hours, the train would clatter uphill at 4.4 mph, arriving around 5:30 p.m. into the city famous for its tea. —Monisha Rajesh, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2024

So far, the fire has been burning uphill away from subdivisions. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024

Noun

Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz described themselves as fighting uphill against former President Trump in Labor Day speeches to unions in critical swing states Michigan and Wisconsin. —Andrew Childers, Axios, 3 Sep. 2024

Vary your incline: Walking uphill burns more calories and strengthens the muscles in your calves, back of your thighs, and buttocks. —Aubrey Bailey, Pt, Dpt, Cht, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2024

Adjective

Houston limped through April and much of May, and any sort of postseason berth looked to be an uphill climb in the first weeks of Joe Espada's tenure. —Michael Shapiro, Chron, 22 Sep. 2024

Notice also uphill to your right the remnant of a rubble-stone wall built, probably in the 1870s, to mark the boundary line of the 8,700-acre San Geronimo land grant. —Jim Holden, The Mercury News, 3 Sep. 2024

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

Phrases Containing uphill

• uphill battle

Kids Definition

uphill

1 of 2 adverb

up·​hill ˈəp-ˈhil 

1

: in an upward direction

2

: against difficulties

uphill

2 of 2 adjective

up·​hill ˌəp-ˌhil 

1

: being on high ground

2

: going up : ascending

3

: difficult sense 1

an uphill struggle