kneel

verb

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.
Several agents are later seen kneeling on top of the man who is bleeding from an apparent head wound, even as a crowd of onlookers demand that the man be released. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025 Police arrived at the West Side Park around 7 p.m. and found the man kneeling on the ground with a gun by his knee among a large crowd on a basketball court, according to a police report. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025 Officers from the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Office responded to Ali’s home in Pelican Rapids, Minn., around 9:40 p.m. that night and found a man, Ibrahim Ali, kneeling down near the girl and screaming, according to Valley News Live, citing Otter Tail police documents. Sean Neumann, People.com, 24 June 2025 Albert Estrada, an athletic and charming teen, knelt in his living room as his mother blessed him repeatedly and prayed for his safe return. Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kneel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kneel. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

kneel

verb
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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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