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.
Miles knelt in front, wearing a purple hoodie while Legend wore a tan jacket and stood behind all four of his kids. Hannah Sacks, People.com, 16 June 2025 Suddenly, with playing partner Viktor Hovland’s ball sitting just a few feet behind his on the green, Spaun kneeled, shielded by his umbrella. Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 June 2025 The man knelt at the edge of the minefield and unsheathed his knife. Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 10 June 2025 He was thrown to the ground and handcuffed; an agent kneeled on the back of his neck. Oriana Van Praag, New Yorker, 28 May 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 1 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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