Definition

Proper noun: 1. Capitol Hill: A specific hill in Washington, D.C., that is the location of the United States Capitol building, where the U.S. Congress meets. It is commonly used as a metonym for the U.S. Congress itself or the legislative branch of the U.S. government.

Usage

• "The Hill" is almost always used with the definite article "the" and is capitalized, as it is a proper noun referring to a specific, singular institution.
• It is primarily used in American political and news contexts.
• It functions as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, representing the institution rather than the physical location.

Examples

• As a subject:
• As an object:
• With a preposition:

Advanced Usage

• "On the Hill": This is the most common prepositional phrase, meaning physically present at the Capitol complex or engaged in work related to Congress.
  • She has worked on the Hill for ten years as a legislative aide.
• The term can be used to personify the institution, implying its collective actions or opinions.
  • The Hill remains deeply divided on the issue.

Variants and Related Words

• Capitol Hill: The full, formal name of the location and the source of the metonym "the Hill."
• Congress: The actual legislative body that meets on Capitol Hill. "The Hill" is often used synonymously with "Congress" but emphasizes the physical and institutional seat of power.

Synonyms

• Congress: The U.S. legislative body (House of Representatives and Senate).
• The Capitol: Refers more specifically to the building itself, but is also used metonymically for the legislature.
• The legislature: A more generic term for the law-making body.

Notes on Different Meanings

• This entry defines "the Hill" specifically as a proper noun and metonym for the U.S. Congress. The general noun "hill" (a naturally raised area of land) is a separate and common word with a different meaning and usage. They are homographs in this specific capitalized form.
• When not capitalized ("the hill"), it refers to any unspecified or previously mentioned hill.

Noun

1. a hill in Washington, D.C., where the Capitol Building sits and Congress meets
   • they are debating the budget today on Capitol Hill