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.
The aunties kneel and sway and hug on the living-room floor, keening dramatically one minute, chuckling over their cellphones the next. Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025 The figure of Christ is accompanied by two others, one of which appears to be a kneeling knight, officials said. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2025 Trump applies push for 2020 revenge In the aftermath of Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for 9 minutes 29 seconds, which gripped the nation's attention in a viral video, some pundits on the right expressed dismay at the officer's actions. Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2025 It was tucked into 17-page bill and passed in a late-night session just a month after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on George Floyd's neck, killing him. Lucille Sherman, Axios, 18 Mar. 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 2 Apr. 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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