Meaning & use
hilltop
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
The highest part or summit of a hill.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a hilltop' or 'the hilltop'; plural 'hilltops'.
Patterns
- on a hilltop
- at the hilltop
- the hilltop of something
We reached the hilltop just as the sun was setting.
A small chapel stands on the hilltop.
From the hilltop, you can see the whole valley.
adjectivebefore a noun
Located on or relating to the top of a hill.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a hilltop village, a hilltop view.
Patterns
- hilltop village
- hilltop view
- hilltop house
They stayed in a charming hilltop village.
The hilltop restaurant offers panoramic views.
We bought a hilltop property with a large garden.
Word forms
| plural | hilltops |
|---|
Common combinations
- on the hilltop
- There is a monument on the hilltop.
- reach the hilltop
- After an hour's climb, we reached the hilltop.
- hilltop village
- The hilltop village is famous for its medieval walls.
- hilltop view
- The hilltop view was breathtaking.
Synonyms and how they differ
- summit
- More formal and often used for the top of a mountain; 'hilltop' is specific to a hill.
- peak
- Can refer to the pointed top of a mountain or hill, or a maximum point; 'hilltop' is the flat or rounded top of a hill.
- crest
- The top of a hill or wave, often used in geography; 'hilltop' is more everyday.
Opposites
Word family
- hill noun
- A raised area of land, smaller than a mountain.
- hilly adjective
- Having many hills.
Commonly confused: hilltop or hilltop?
hilltop vs hilltop
Sometimes confused with 'hill top' (two words), but the compound noun is usually written as one word.
Practice
They built a house ______ the hilltop.
Choose one answer.
We use 'on' for a surface or position on top of something, so 'on the hilltop' is correct. 'In' suggests being inside, 'at' is less precise for a physical top, and 'by' means near.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hilltop”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.