Initially it may be uphill; even steep (5)
I believe the answer is:
imbue
'steep' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'initially it may be uphill even' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The first letters of 'it may be uphill even' is 'IMBUE'.
(Other definitions for imbue that I've seen before include "Permeate, fill" , "Penetrate" , "dye" , "Suffuse with colour" , "Fill with, infuse" .)