"in a descending direction," late 14c., from down (adv.) + hill (n.). From 1590s as a noun, "downward slope of a hill;" meaning "downhill skiing race" is from 1960. As an adjective, "sloping downward, descending," from 1727.
your performance has been going downhill for a long time now
running downhill, he gained a lot of speed
downcast
downer
downfall
downgrade
down-hearted
downhill
Downing Street
download
down-market
downplay
downpour