kneel

verb

ˈnēl How to pronounce kneel (audio)
knelt ˈnelt How to pronounce kneel (audio) or kneeled; kneeling

intransitive verb

: to position the body so that one or both knees rest on the floor
The prisoners were ordered to kneel.
: to fall or rest on the knees
She kneeled on the floor next to the child.

Examples of kneel in a Sentence

She was kneeling on the floor beside her child. He was kneeling in front of the altar and praying.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Before the bout could begin, Turner knelt and took off her mask. — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 Ten months after Travis knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring, is this finally marry-me-Juliet time? — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2026 When the skies cleared, the ceremony resumed and attendees knelt in the mud to receive Communion. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026 Hargitay pulled Peter Hermann, who played the narrator's spouse, Sam, by the hand to encourage him to kneel. — Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for kneel

Word History

Etymology

Middle English knelen, from Old English cnēowlian; akin to Old English cnēow knee

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kneel was before the 12th century

Rhymes for kneel

See All Rhymes for kneel

Browse Nearby Words

knee-jointed
kneel
knee-length
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kneel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kneel. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

kneel

verb
ˈnē(ə)l How to pronounce kneel (audio)
knelt ˈnelt How to pronounce kneel (audio) or kneeled
ˈnē(ə)ld
 ; kneeling
: to bend the knee : support oneself on the knees
kneeler noun

More from Merriam-Webster on kneel

Nglish: Translation of kneel for Spanish Speakers

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