hills: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (Very High)Formal, Informal, Literary, Technical (e.g., Geography).
Quick answer
What does “hills” mean?
The plural form of hill, meaning multiple raised, naturally elevated areas of land, smaller than mountains.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The plural form of hill, meaning multiple raised, naturally elevated areas of land, smaller than mountains.
Can refer to a region characterized by such landforms, a metaphor for challenges or obstacles, or a general uneven or undulating terrain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. American English may more readily use 'hill' in place names for minor features where British English might use 'hill' or 'down'.
Connotations
In British English, 'the hills' (e.g., 'the Cotswold Hills') strongly denotes a specific, named region. In American English, 'rolling hills' is a more common collocation for pastoral landscapes.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both dialects. American English may have a slightly higher frequency due to common topographic references.
Grammar
How to Use “hills” in a Sentence
[verb] + the hills (e.g., head for the hills, take to the hills)[preposition] + the hills (e.g., in the hills, among the hills)[adjective] + hills (e.g., gentle hills, rugged hills)Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used literally. Metaphorically, 'over the hill' is used pejoratively for outdated products or past-peak employees. 'Uphill battle' is more common.
Academic
Common in geography and earth sciences to describe landforms and topography. Used in history and literature to describe settings.
Everyday
Extremely common for describing landscapes, views, and areas for walking or living.
Technical
In geography, refers to landforms with local relief typically less than 600 metres (2,000 ft). In cycling/running, denotes challenging inclines on a route.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hills”
- Incorrect: 'The Alps are beautiful hills.' (Alps are mountains) Correct: 'The foothills of the Alps are beautiful.'
- Incorrect: 'We walked on the hill for hours.' (if referring to an area) Correct: 'We walked in the hills for hours.'
- Overusing the singular 'hill' when the plural 'hills' is more appropriate for describing a region.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it often functions as a collective noun describing a type of landscape (e.g., 'We live in the hills'), whereas 'hills' can also simply mean several individual hills.
There is no universally agreed height distinction. Generally, hills are lower, less steep, and have less prominent peaks than mountains. 'Hills' also often implies a rounded, softer shape compared to the ruggedness of mountains.
No, 'hills' is not a verb. The related verb is 'to hill' (e.g., in gardening: to hill potatoes), but it is rare and unrelated to the landform meaning.
It's a fixed phrase from a traditional song/poem meaning a distant, romantic, or idealized place. It is not a commonly used idiom with a single metaphorical meaning like 'over the hill'.
The plural form of hill, meaning multiple raised, naturally elevated areas of land, smaller than mountains.
Hills is usually formal, informal, literary, technical (e.g., geography). in register.
Hills: in British English it is pronounced /hɪlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /hɪlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “over the hill (metaphor for past one's prime)”
- “head for the hills (to flee)”
- “a hill of beans (something insignificant)”
- “king of the hill (dominant position)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the double 'L' in 'hills' as two small peaks sitting side by side.
Conceptual Metaphor
HILLS ARE CHALLENGES/OBSTACLES (e.g., 'an uphill struggle'), HILLS ARE PLACES OF REFUGE/ESCAPE (e.g., 'head for the hills'), HILLS ARE AGE/DECLINE (e.g., 'over the hill').
Practice
Quiz
What is the most likely meaning of 'hills' in the sentence: 'The economic recovery faces many hills ahead.'?