Examples of the words in use: 1. This is a steep ascent (noun), which means this is a steep climb up a slope.⬆️ 2. We are hiking uphill (place), which means we are climbing up to somewhere.⬆️ 3. This is a steep descent (noun), which means this is a steep climb down a slope.⬇️ 4. We are hiking downhill (place), which means we are walking down to somewhere.⬇️ 5. "Slope" is a noun for the side of a hill or mountain. You can go up or down a slope. ↗️↘️ A slope is not flat. A meadow is flat. ⟵⟶ Happy Hiking! 🥾

Also by way of example; you can make an ascent, you can cross the slope and you can go uphill. But these are not exclusive examples, which is why conversations in context make all the difference.

Google the words. Use chatgpt. Book a teacher. Have regular conversations with an expert. My students do all these things. I think it helps.

Hi Arti, Good question! “Ascent”, “uphill” and “slope” have different meanings. The word “ascent” is a noun (with its verb form being “to ascend”) and refers to a climb or walk to the top of something (often a mountain or hill) or the upward movement of a person or object through a substance like air. “Uphill” often refers towards the top of a hill or slope. A slope refers to some degree of inclination, but can also be used in hiking to refer to a surface with one end/side being higher than the other. I hope this helps!

All of these words are used by hikers in the US, along with others. As is usually the case in English, the Latin-derived words (ascend, ascent, descend, descent) are more formal. They’re perfectly correct but I’d be less likely to use them in speech. ‘Slope’ often refers to a geographic area, but if you are talking about the trail itself, it’s used with an adjective. We saw a bear on the opposite slope. There’s a steep slope coming out of the canyon, but the rest of the trail is fairly level. ‘Uphill’ and ‘downhill’ can be nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. There’s too much uphill on this hike! I’m tired. The last place to refill your water is on the downhill section of the approach. The climb to the summit is bone dry. I like doing this loop clockwise. You walk uphill for 3k while you’re fresh and then finish with 7k of gradual downhill. (In the US we use ‘miles’ not ‘k’ though) My typical day crossing the Alps was 30k with 1500m vertical. (=ascent)